A software engineer may not have known he was falling to his death from a balcony, an inquest has heard.
Kieran Hughes, 25, from Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd, died in the early hours of 11 July, 2025, while on holiday in Malta with three friends.
A post-mortem examination by Maltese authorities found there was a “substantial level” of alcohol in his blood.
The inquest at Caernarfon Coroner’s Court heard there was no evidence of third-party involvement, and coroner Elizabeth Dudley-Jones concluded his death was an accident.
His dad, Alan, said the family endured “heartache all day, every day”. Hughes’ friends said he had been a high achiever, “a legend and a genius”.
In July 2025, Hughes and his friends went to St Julian’s in Malta and stayed at the Cavalieri Art Hotel.
On 10 July, the court was told, they left the hotel at about 19:00 BST, went to dinner, a casino and elsewhere, drinking beer, cocktails and limoncello.
At about 04:15 on 11 July, a member of the public went into the hotel to say a man was lying on the ground outside.
Police were called and found a man “in a pool of blood” who looked “lifeless”.
Police went to room 603, above where Hughes’ body was found, and tried to wake his friend, Osian Jones, who was asleep in a “state of intoxication” and smelled of alcohol.
The pair had been sharing a room, while the other two friends were in a different room.
The inquest heard Jones did not wake up until about 06:30, but after investigations there were no indications of third-party involvement in Hughes’ death.
There was no disarray in room 603, the inquest heard, and CCTV showed the pair returning to their room holding on to each other.
“It does not seem that there was any animosity between Kieran and Mr Jones,” Dudley-Jones said.
There were no reports of shouting or arguing.
CCTV captured Hughes’ fall about 48 minutes after he returned to his room.
An autopsy concluded he died from multiple injuries following blunt force trauma due to a fall from height.
No apparent resistance injuries were found, indicating it was possible “he was not even aware he was falling from the balcony”.
The inquest heard it was probable Hughes and his friend went to sleep, and Hughes, in a state of “severe drunkenness” went outside – possibly because he felt unwell or wanted air.
Dudley-Jones told Hughes’ family, who attended the hearing, his death was a “complete tragedy” and he was “an amazing man”.
She added: “I have not enjoyed this inquest… this one, I have to say, it is very moving.”
In a statement read to the inquest by the coroner, Hughes’ father Alan said the family encountered “hurdle after hurdle” in dealing with the Maltese authorities and said they experienced “heartache all day, every day”.