Brit dad-of-two who died at Ibiza airport collapsed due to mystery medical condition and WASN’T queue jumping passport control, brother reveals
Paul Birchall, 51, was unable to be saved by medics after he collapsed and hit his head on the concrete floor
A BRIT father-of-two has tragically died after collapsing at Ibiza airport after arriving on the island for a stag do with pals.
Friends and family have been left in shock at the sudden passing of 51-year-old Paul Birchall, from Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Spanish reports initially stated he knocked his head trying to leap over a passport control barrier, but this has now been ruled out by witnesses and Spanish police.
His brother Michael told The Sun Online: "I wasn't with him, I've get friends who were and I've spoken with them several times.
"He was just walking normally. Basically he was just like someone flicked a switch and he's just collapsed. He hasn't tried to jump the queue, he's just collapsed."
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A pal told Michael: "He just fell over. There was nothing untoward. He was stood in front of me - it was like someone flicked a switch.
"I was screaming for medical assistance. It was one of the most horrible things I've ever experienced. People rushed to help. It was a medical condition by the look of it."
The incident occurred at 8.30pm last night after Bolton Wanderers' fan Paul had arrived on a flight from Manchester.
A doctor who happened to be a passenger on the same flight rushed to his aid, together with police and emergency medics.
They tried to revive him with prolonged resuscitation but he could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene.
A pal described Paul as "a really nice lad who could bring a laugh out of anyone".
He added: "He could make anyone laugh, everyone's just in so much shock that he has gone away for a couple of nights with the lads and he's collapsed."
An autopsy is being carried out to determine the cause of death.
A Civil Guard spokesman in Majorca said Paul had not been queue-jumping at the airport as initial local reports suggested and everything was pointing to the death being the result of "natural causes" after he collapsed for reasons which are not yet known.
The spokesman said: "The dead man did not fall and smash his head while queue-jumping as it has been reported.
"He appears to have collapsed for reasons which are yet unknown while he was waiting to pass through passport control."
A source said: "The CCTV cameras show this man was not doing anything silly. A post-mortem will determine the cause of death but is all pointing towards natural causes.
"It may end up being the result of a heart attack or a stroke but it was certainly not an accident caused by him doing any queue-jumping."
Police have also opened a full investigation. The British Consulate has been informed and is helping Paul's relatives.
Earlier this week a fire ripped through part of the party island, sparking the evacuation of dozens of holidaymakers.
And the Spanish island also made headlines after a British man was filmed romping with a woman on a Ryanair flight home - in full view of other passengers.
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