A 26-year-old British influencer tragically died after falling from Spain’s highest bridge in Talavera de la Reina on Sunday morning.
The incident occurred at the 630ft Castilla-La Mancha bridge, about 90 minutes southwest of Madrid. The young man, whose identity has not been released by police, reportedly fell from a height of 40 to 50 meters, approximately one-quarter of the total height of the bridge, at around 7:15 a.m.
The influencer was accompanied by a 24-year-old Englishman, who survived the ordeal but was left in a state of shock, according to local police.
Footage from the scene shows police cordoning off the area where the tragedy took place. Both police and firefighters responded swiftly but were unable to save the man.
A spokesperson for the National Police in Toledo, the province where the incident occurred, stated, “The reason he fell is not clear and will be investigated by a local court.”
Authorities confirmed that the two men had been climbing the bridge without any harnesses or protective equipment. A passing motorist is said to have raised the alarm after witnessing the fall.
The surviving companion was initially too traumatized to speak but has since been released from police care. Officials confirmed he would not face criminal charges, though it remains to be seen if the local town hall will impose sanctions for the illegal activity.
Climbing the Castilla-La Mancha bridge is strictly prohibited, and local authorities have reiterated this ban numerous times.
The Castilla-La Mancha bridge is the second-highest bridge in Europe and the tallest in Spain. Investigators are considering the possibility that bad weather may have played a role in the accident, as heavy rain had been reported in the area, possibly making surfaces more slippery.
It is not yet clear if the two British men had traveled to Spain specifically to film content of their bridge climb, but they were using a rental car to navigate the region.
Local officials confirmed the pair had intended to create social media content during the climb, which ended in the tragic accident.
Macarena Muñoz, a local councillor, confirmed the death, stating that access to the bridge is “totally banned” and emphasizing that the area is not open for such activities.
She added, “We have made it clear on several occasions that it’s not something that can be done in any circumstances.”
In a formal statement, Talavera de la Reina Town Council echoed this sentiment, confirming the death and stating that the influencer and his companion had come to the area with the intention of climbing the bridge and filming content for social media.
“This unfortunate and sad outcome highlights the dangers of such actions,” the statement read.
The body of the deceased has since been transferred to a local funeral parlour, and a post-mortem examination is pending.
Investigations into the cause of the fall and whether any external factors, such as weather, contributed to the tragedy are ongoing.
