07 November 2023 , 16:07
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A holidaymaker died after falling from the window of the bathroom of a hotel in Cornwall, an inquest heard.
Oliver Collier-Timpson, 25, was on holiday in St Ives with his friends when the tragedy happened in April this year. The geography teacher had enjoyed a pub crawl around St Ives. But Oliver, who had a first class degree in geography, suffered with a bowel condition which meant he had a desperate need to get to a toilet.
The Truro inquest heard he went to the toilet before leaving the pub but on the way back shortly after that he entered the Harbour View House boutique hotel in St Ives and asked to use the WC. He was allowed in despite the hotel not normally letting members of the public enter.
Oliver was on holiday with his friends at the time of the tragedy (muchloved.com)Oliver's body was later found at the rear of the property. Efforts were made to save him and he was airlifted to Derriford where he eventually passed away on April 11, after suffering a catastrophic brain injury.
His mother Joanne Timpson said that Oliver must have been desperate to go into the hotel and ask to use the toilet, adding that she believes her son intended to jump out of the window onto the floor below. It was said that Oliver could have become lost at the back of the property.
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His family said his organs were donated to help others. Giving evidence at the inquest, Joanne said her son was "a larger than life character, gentle and very loving", reports Cornwall Live. She said: "He was very sociable and could chat to anyone. People would gravitate towards him and it was not uncommon for him to sit and talk to strangers on a night out."
Also giving evidence, Oliver's friend Christopher Phillips said that Oliver disappeared on the evening in question, but it was not out of character for him to walk off on nights out. As concern grew, the friends tried to locate Oliver and he was eventually found unresponsive at the back of Harbour View House after they tracked his phone.
Christopher said there was nothing out of the ordinary about Oliver's behaviour that day and that he was "happy to be on holiday" and delighted at the prospect of seeing his brother. Another friend present, Marcus, said in a statement that "Oliver wasn't one to do silly dares or stunts".
Anthony Cornish, who runs Harbour View House, said that they allowed Oliver in and he later joined in the search for him. The toilet was found used and with the seat broken.
The assistant coroner for Cornwall Emma Hillson recorded a misadventure conclusion before expressing her condolences to the family. She said single Oliver had clearly climbed out of the window but the fall was unintended.