In a truly shocking twist, two British men have now sadly passed away in Ibiza within the last two weeks. Their losses have sparked an outpouring of grief across the international ice hockey community. Gary Kelly was a promising 19-year-old professional ice hockey player for the Dundee Stars. Tragically, he died at the Ibiza Rocks hotel on Monday on holiday with pals. His premature death comes about six weeks after the death of Evan Thomson, 26, who died on July 7 under similar circumstances.
Incumbent board member Gary Kelly dazzled the audience with his talent, charisma and uncontainable energy. Everyone thought he would go on to do great things. Dundee Stars and other ice hockey clubs including Whitley Warriors and Glasgow Clan sent their sympathies. Their thoughts are with Kelly’s family, partner and friends as they cope with this tragic loss.
Ibiza Rocks hotel Given the recent spate of incidents, we were shocked to hear of these tragic events.
“We are deeply shocked and devastated by the recent incidents that have tragically occurred.” – The Ibiza Rocks hotel
The hotel emphasized its commitment to guest safety, stating, “The safety and wellbeing of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority.” They further emphasized their commitment to serving those impacted and helping law enforcement in their investigations.
Apart from honouring Kelly’s legacy, the skating community was mourning the loss of Evan Thomson. Thomson’s mother shared her grief publicly, stating, “I’m absolutely heartbroken to write and tell you all, earlier this week my son Evan was in a tragic accident whilst on holiday with his friends in Ibiza and sadly passed away.”
UK FCDO told us that in both cases they have been in touch with the relevant local authorities. As investigations continue, the Dundee Stars have expressed their heartfelt condolences:
“We send our thoughts and condolences to Gary’s family, partner, and all his friends at this extremely difficult time.” – The Dundee Stars
Indeed, Gary Kelly’s influence on his fellow service members was nothing short of extraordinary. The Dundee Stars described him as a “hugely talented and charismatic individual who had a great future ahead of him.” Memorials Ice hockey teams from across the world have sent in tributes. This outpouring shows the depth of the loss felt by friends and fans alike.
As families around both incidents grieve the loss of their loved ones, both events remind us dramatically how fragile life is.