The 21-year-old Angelo from Breda died in July 2024 on the Spanish island of Mallorca due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The family went to court with only one goal: justice for Angelo. Now the case is dismissed, but the family appeals. “We will never get Angelo back, but we can prevent people from booking a holiday in the unsafe villa of that owner.”
Angelo was on holiday with ten friends in the summer of 2024 and stayed in a holiday home in the capital of Mallorca. He slept with a friend in a room next to the butane gas. After a night out, Angelo jumped in the shower. The following morning one of the friends found him in the bathroom.
He thought Angelo was sleeping, but soon realized that he no longer breathed. The emergency services were called, but could no longer do anything to save Angelo. He died of the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
A bird’s nest blocked the drain of the gas boiler, so that the combustion gases could not be removed and a dangerous amount of gas ended up in the bathroom.
The family tightened a lawsuit against the owner of the villa. They were asked not to bring anything out as long as the case ran. “Because of this we got the feeling that behind closed doors was sent on a quiet agreement,” said the family.
“It is incomprehensible that such a thing can happen, and that no responsibility is taken for that.”
According to the family, the accident is the result of poor maintenance on the holiday villa. The property, rented to tourists, did not meet the necessary safety standards. “Angelo was only 21 years old. He had a whole life ahead of him. And in one fell swoop he was taken away from us, due to pure negligence.”
“The case was dismissed last week,” says one of the sisters of Angelo to Omroep Brabant. “In the meantime, the owner of the villa will continue to rent the building. It feels like Angelo’s death is being ignored. As if his life was worth nothing. We can’t let this rest. We will appeal.”
The family hopes that the story shakes people awake. “We want to prevent other families from having to go through the same thing.”
