The tourist who collapsed and died in the middle of the street in Magaluf in the early hours of Monday morning was a popular family man from Ireland who had got lost following a night out, it has emerged.
Michael Grant, 45, a physiotherapist from Waterford, was found unresponsive close to the resort’s notorious Punta Bellena strip that is packed with late-night bars, nightclubs and lap dancing joints at about 4.30am.
Mr Grant was on holiday in Magaluf with his wife Leanne and their four children and other families from Ireland when the tragedy took place.
The group were staying at the Sol Katmandu Park and Resort that is popular with families with young children.
This afternoon Irish local radio station WLR reported Mr Grant was from Waterford.
Michael Grant (pictured),45, tragically collapsed and died in the middle of the street in Magaluf in the early hours of Monday morning
Mr Grant was a popular family man from Ireland who had got lost following a night out, it has emerged. Pictured: A view of the road where the man was found this morning
Mr Grant, a physiotherapist from Waterford, was found unresponsive close to Magaluf’s notorious Punta Bellena strip that is packed with late-night bars, nightclubs and lap dancing joints at about 4.30am. Pictured: Locals watch on as police work at the scene today
Today his family and friends were said to be distraught following his unexpected death.
‘The family and friends of Mr Grant were crying all morning,’ a hotel worker revealed.
‘He was staying at the hotel with his wife and children. They were part of a large group, other families, who are all on holiday together.’
Mr Grant had been enjoying drinks by the hotel pool before going out on to the town, it is believed.
The hotel worker added: ‘He had been drinking by the pool all of the afternoon. And then he went out.’
Mr Grant is believed to have become separated from other members of his group and to have become disorientated before he collapsed while crossing Martin Ros Garcia street, close to the Blue Bar restaurant.
He is believed to have taken the wrong turn as he tried to return to his hotel, which is in the other direction to where he was found.
A security guard alerted local police, after seeing him collapse and fall to the ground.
Attempts to revive him at the scene proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
But his body was not recovered from the street until several hours later, as police launched an investigation into his unexpected death.
A local shopkeeper told MailOnline: ‘I was not here when the man died, it was about four o’clock in the morning. But when I came to work at about 8am his body was still lying on the ground. It was horrible.’
A strip of paper from what appears to be instructions for a defibrillator are seen on the street where Mr Grant was found unresponsive this morning
Mr Grant was on holiday in Magaluf with his wife Leanne and their four children and other families from Ireland when the tragedy took place. Pictured: The road where he was found
A hotel lifeguard added: ‘The man was already dead when I got to work.
‘He was lying in the road by the pedestrian crossing. It was earie. I did not was to look too closely, it is bad luck.’
A spokeswoman for Mr Grant’s family declined a request to comment on his tragic death, but a relative posted a tribute to the much-loved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend, online.
It read: ‘Michael died suddenly whilst on holidays with family & friends.
‘Deeply mourned and forever loved by his heartbroken wife Leanne, his four children Kayley, Niamh, Shay and Sofia, his devastated parents Michael (Sam) and Marie (Grant), sisters Jeannette, Deborah and Deirdre, brothers and best friends Brian and Alan, his parents-in-law Luke and Tina (Nolan), brothers-in-law Les and Shane, Shane’s wife Trish, sisters-in-law Lilian, Sinead and Catherine, Catherine’s partner Gordon.
‘Always remembered and forever loved by his ten nieces and nephews, godchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins, extended family, relatives, neighbours and his wide circle of wonderful friends. May he Rest in Peace Forever.’
Holidaymakers have told of their shock at Mr Grant’s sudden death.
Friends Brenda and Shirley from Wolverhampton described his death as a tragedy.
Brenda, 65, said: ‘It’s awful that he just dropped dead in the street. Forty-five is not old, how can this have happened?’
Shirley added: ‘People do drink while they’re on holiday, but you don’t expect something like this.’
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs today did not offer any comment when contacted by MailOnline.
Initial media reports had incorrectly described Mr Grant as a 49-year-old Brit, before it was later confirmed that he was travelling on an Irish passport.
A spokesman for Calvia Council, the local authority responsible for Magaluf, had said earlier: ‘A British tourist aged 45 died in the street this morning in the Magaluf area. It occurred around 4.30am. The dead man was staying in a hotel in the area.’
He added: ‘An employee of a local establishment alerted police, saying that a man was unwell and was stumbling around in the street.
The group were staying at the Sol Katmandu Park and Resort (pictured) that is popular with families with young children
‘Local police arrived and performed CPR but were unable to revive him. The Civil Guard has taken over the investigation to determine the cause of death.’
A Civil Guard source said: ‘This death does not appear to be crime-related in any way but the autopsy will be key to determining what happens next.’Â
A post-mortem is reported to be set to take place today.
It is hoped that CCTV cameras will be able to shed light on the incident.