Braintree student killed in holiday dare

By jgrant

EMOTIONAL tributes have flooded in for a 20-year-old student who plummeted to his death after a holiday game went tragically wrong.

Mark Day, from Nottage Crescent in Braintree died in Majorca's party resort of Magaluf when he crashed through a 5th floor hotel window on Sunday night.

He was on holiday with University of Essex friends Marc Smart and Steve Kimberley and it is thought the group had been drinking when Mr Day, wearing just socks and underwear, was dared to race down the 5th floor corridor at the Majorca Beach Hotel after losing a game of poker.

But the forfeit went wrong and he crashed through the window at the end of the corridor.

Paramedics tried desperately to save his life but he died at the scene.

Mark was enjoying his summer break after completing his first year studying accounting, finance and management at his university's Colchester campus.

Tributes from grief-stricken friends have been pouring in to his social networking pages.

His distraught girlfriend, Katie Barlow, wrote: “I love you forever and ever and I'll never stop.

“I miss you more today than I did yesterday, but not half as much as I will tomorrow. Love you my angel, rest in peace. Thinking of you every day.”

Friend Danny Tracey wrote: “The best friend any guy could ever ask for – I'm going to miss you so much. Forever in my heart.”

Another university chum, Dan O'Shaughnessy wrote: “Mark I love you man. The house next year is gonna miss you a lot. Every day is going to be hard but we will carry on. Please give Smarty and Steve the power to carry on.”

Pal Dan Handley said: “I can't believe it, I really can't. You've been such a great mate to me over the years and I really don't know what I'm gonna do without you! Real sorry I couldn't come see you before your holiday mate. I miss you so much man!!! You'll be remembered forever and not a day will pass without thinking about you... R.I.P bro, best mates forever.”

“You were one of the nicest blokes I have ever met,” said Chloe Wellings, “and I am so glad to have known you. We are all going to miss you so much.”

Mark was a keen badminton player and captain of his university's first team. In a tribute, the badminton club said: “We will greatly miss you mate. Irreplaceable to those who knew you and an irreplaceable member of our club.”

Mark's parents Beverley and Stephen were on holiday at the time of his death. A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed they have been told of the tragedy.