Liam Hampson death: Police reveals further details of tragedy as nightclub releases statement

Spanish police have released more information about what they think happened in the 30 hours Liam Hampson was missing in Barcelona before his body was found at a nightclub.

Managers of the Barcelona nightclub where Liam Hampson was found dead have broken their silence, saying they are “beyond appalled” by the tragedy as Spanish police revealed why it took so long for the rugby league player’s body to be discovered.

Hampson, 24, had been holidaying in Europe but was found dead after a night of partying in Spain with Queensland NRL stars AJ Brimson and Jordan Riki.

He had been missing for more than 30 hours before his body was discovered by cleaners on Thursday morning (AEDT) on an internal balcony.

According to reports in Spain, police believe Hampson’s friends lost him within the Apolo nightclub and assumed he would meet them back at their hotel.

When the 24-year-old did not show up, his friends – including Titans’ fullback Alexander ‘AJ’ Brimson and Broncos stars Jordan Riki and Jesse Arthars – contacted Hampson’s family and raised the alarm with police.

His friends had launched a frantic social media campaign asking for anyone with information on their missing friend to contact them before the devastating news was confirmed.

Hampson had not been seen since 4.30am Tuesday, local time, and his body was not discovered until Wednesday lunchtime.

It is understood the nightclub had opened as normal in the hours Hampson was missing and that British band Paradise Lost had played on Tuesday night.

Liam Hampson in the background of a picture taken at a Barcelona nightclub where his body would be found hours later. His mate, Jordan Riki, is in the foreground with a woman.

Liam Hampson partying in France.

His body, however, had not been seen until the following day as he had fallen onto an internal balcony police say “was not part of the public area of the nightclub”.

“The young man had fallen from a height of 14 meters to an interior patio of lights and died on the spot,” reports Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

“The police have concluded, reconstructing the movements of the victim, that he must have gotten lost in the premises and tried to go somewhere through what was actually an emergency door.

“The reason why the body has been found so many hours later is simple: the patio in which it fell is difficult to access and is not a place that can be seen with the naked eye.”

CLUB BREAKS SILENCE

Extending their condolences to the family, the Sala Apolo nightclub said they would be working closely with the police as the tragedy was investigated.

“These are sad and very painful moments. First of all for all the people who are affected by the unforeseeable accident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday 18th October in the outdoor area of Apolo venue,” the club said in a statement.

“It’s been sad as well for those of us who are part of the organisation.

“The management and the entire Apolo team are beyond appalled by what happened and we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Liam Hampson.

“We have placed ourselves at the disposal of the Mossos d’Esquadra police force and will continue to do so in relation to any matter concerning the fatal accident.”

Sala Apolo nightclub in Barcelona. Picture: Sala Apolo

Spanish police said they are working on the hypothesis that Hampson died as a result of a fatal fall from more than 10 metres and confirmed that he was found by cleaners on an internal balcony.

“It was in an internal patio which was not part of the public area of the nightclub,” a policeman told the Daily Mail.

“I don’t know how he would have got into that part of the building but he accessed it and from there fell around 10 metres to an interior patio.

“The fact it wasn’t a public area helps to explain why the workers who raised the alarm didn’t do so until Wednesday lunchtime local time.”

Donem el nostre més sentit condol als familiars i amics de Liam Hampson i ens posem a disposició dels Mossos d’Esquadra en relació amb qualsevol assumpte pertinent a aquest imprevisible accident. pic.twitter.com/4ZEAXtfk9Q

— Sala Apolo (@Sala_Apolo) October 20, 2022

Hampson’s family have travelled to Barcelona where a post-mortem will be carried out. However, under Spanish law, the results will not be made public.

A GoFundMe campaign started with the aim of raising $50,000 to help the Hampson family bring their son’s body home raised more than $72,000 in just six hours.

Among the more than 1200 people to contribute to the fund, organised by Brisbane Broncos forward and close friend Riki, included Kalyn Ponga, Alex Glenn, Reece Walsh, Anthony Don, Paul Sironen and Charlotte Caslick.

“On behalf of Liam’s family and friends we would like to support his beautiful family in helping getting Liam home,” Riki wrote.

“Also supporting his family through this difficult time. As we all know Liam was a beautiful soul who brought people together with his love, wisdom and jokes.

“Liam was an outstanding talent on and off the football field if it was helping his teammates win a nail biting game or educating kids and many others on life and his wisdom. We love Liam and any donation would go a long way.”