The family of a 20-year-old British man who was found dead at the bottom of a lift shaft in Turkey have said their holiday has been turned into a ‘living nightmare’ and vowed to fight for justice.
Tyler Kerry was on his first holiday abroad when the tragic incident occurred last week.
He had been travelling across Turkey with his grandparents, brother and girlfriend when the group arrived at an all-inclusive hotel in the popular resort city of Antalya.
Alex Price, 42, Mr Kerry’s great uncle, said his nephew had stayed out later than the rest of the family to watch the Manchester United match against FK Bodø/Glimt on Thursday evening.
Following a search led by his brother, Mason, Tyler was found unresponsive in the hotel lift shaft at about 7am on Friday wearing just his boxers, while bloody articles of his clothing were found elsewhere in the hotel.
Tyler’s grandmother said: ‘It’s not a holiday any more, it’s a living nightmare… My brain feels like spaghetti. I’ve been non-stop fighting for justice for my boy.
‘I have cried non-stop and every time I close my eyes all I can see is him lying at the bottom of the lift shaft,’ she told the BBC.
Police are treating the death as suspicious.
Tyler Kerry and his girlfriend Molly Underdown. Ms Underdown paid tribute to her boyfriend on Facebook who she described as ‘the most caring, loving, funny boy I have ever met. He lit up every room’
Alex Price, 42, his great uncle, said Mr Kerry had stayed out later than the rest of the family to watch the Manchester United match against FK Bodø/Glimt. Following a search led by his brother, Mason, Mr Price was found unresponsive at about 7am wearing just his boxers
Mr Kerry was on his first holiday abroad when the tragic incident occurred. He had been travelling across Turkey with his grandparents, brother and girlfriend when the group arrived at an all inclusive hotel in the popular resort city of Antalya
Now the family are hoping that the Turkish authorities can explain why Tyler’s clothes, mobile phone and his blood-stained vape were found elsewhere in the hotel on the first floor.
Mr Price told The Sunday Times that the family were at this time ‘not so sure how accidental the situation is’ due to some of what they described as ‘suspicious details’ surrounding the incident.
He said: ‘The information we have been provided is quite limited. I believe Turkish police attended at the time of the incident and they have not provided any further feedback.’
‘The hotel hasn’t been forthcoming with information and I believe the lift shaft where Tyler was found was back up and running within a couple of hours of the incident.’
Mr Kerry was a labourer and according to Mr Price had been thinking about moving in with his girlfriend Molly Underdown.
Ms Underdown paid tribute to her boyfriend on FaceBook who she described as ‘the most caring, loving, funny boy I have ever met’.
The grieving woman continued: ‘He lit up every room he went in with his silly little raps or his jokes. May my boy rest in peace’.
Paying tribute to his nephew, Tyler’s uncle Alex Price offered poignant words about the Manchester United-mad football fan.
‘He was an energetic, exuberant, young lad who was just settling into his life’, the uncle said.
‘He had a stable job, had just got himself a new car and was beginning to think about moving in with his girlfriend.’
Since the 20-year-old’s passing, a GoFundMe has been set up to help repatriate Tyler’s body to the UK.
Tyler’s family believe that he woke up early and had left his hotel room to go for a walk or to get some food.
Since the 20-year-old’s passing, a GoFundMe has been set up to help repatriate Tyler’s body to the UK. It has so far raised more than £5,000
The family are hoping that the Turkish authorities can explain why his clothes, mobile phone and his blood-stained vape were found elsewhere in the hotel on the first floor
One theory they see likely is that Tyler had pressed the button for the lift but walked through without it being there.
His uncle said online: ‘We believe he fell roughly around 4am our time as he had been messaging family members just before about what a great time he was having.’
The family’s GoFundMe had raised £5,000 on Sunday evening, with more than 100 donations pouring in.
In the description of the page, Tyler’s uncle added that the 20-year-old was ‘A young man full of personality, kindness and compassion with his whole life ahead of him’.
It read: ‘He was completely devoted to his family and girlfriend Molly. We are all absolutely devastated.’
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