How did Tyler Kerry die on a family holiday?
A family holiday is usually remembered for exploring, laughter and having fun in the sun with your loved ones. But sadly, this was not the case for Essex-born 20-year-old Tyler Kerry and his family.
Less than 48 hours after arriving at the hotel near Antalya, Turkey with his family, Tyler was found dead in a lift shaft.
The young man’s body was discovered at the bottom of a hotel lift shaft in the early hours of 29th November 2024. He was found wearing only his boxer shorts and socks, while some of his belongings were found elsewhere in the building.
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The last known hours
The evening before Tyler’s death had appeared uneventful. He had spent time with his family at the hotel before staying up later than some of the others.
CCTV later showed him entering a lift in the hotel after feeling unwell and heading towards the floor where his room was located. According to evidence later discussed at the inquest, the lift stopped on the first floor for several minutes. What happened after that, no one knows.
When the 20-year-old failed to return, his brother began searching for him. It was his brother and girlfriend who eventually found him at the bottom of the lift shaft. Despite emergency crews attending the scene, they couldn’t save Tyler.
But what had happened? How did this tragic death happen after two days of enjoying a seemingly normal holiday?
A series of unanswered questions
Almost immediately, details emerged that left Tyler's family struggling to understand what had happened.
His clothing and belongings were not found with his body. His mobile phone had been smashed, and his vape was reportedly found with what appeared to be blood on it. CCTV footage accounted for only part of his movements, leaving a significant gap in the timeline before his fatal fall.
These details led Tyler's family to question whether his death could simply be explained as an accident.
Turkish authorities, however, concluded there were no signs of third-party involvement. A post-mortem examination found Tyler had suffered multiple traumatic injuries consistent with a fall from height, and toxicology reports indicated alcohol and a small amount of cannabis in his system. Investigators did not identify evidence of assault or injuries caused by a weapon.
Yet for those closest to Tyler, those findings answered only part of the story.
Why the truth is so hard to find
One of the biggest obstacles has been the investigation itself.
At an inquest held in Essex in 2026, Coroner Michelle Brown explained that the UK authorities had received limited assistance from Turkey. Because there is no reciprocal arrangement requiring Turkish authorities to provide evidence to an English inquest, much of the documentation available to the coroner was supplied by Tyler's own family rather than by investigators overseas.
The inquest also heard criticism of how the original scene had been handled. Tyler's family said key items were not properly preserved, and they were concerned that the lift was returned to service shortly after the incident. The coroner noted that had the death occurred in the UK, the scene would almost certainly have remained sealed while forensic examinations were carried out.
Those differences have made it extremely hard to discover exactly what happened during Tyler’s last moments.
The conclusion
After reviewing the available evidence, the Essex inquest concluded that Tyler died from multiple traumatic injuries caused by a fall from height.
However, the coroner stopped short of ruling the death either an accident or suicide. Instead, a narrative conclusion was recorded, acknowledging that while the cause of death was clear, the circumstances leading to the fall could not be determined.
As Coroner Michelle Brown explained, 'I cannot say this was an accident – I do not know.'
Searching for answers
For Tyler's family, the inquest provided some clarity but little closure.
They have consistently maintained that important questions remain unanswered and that further investigation is needed.
At the same time, medical experts instructed during the UK proceedings were unable to identify evidence proving that another person caused Tyler's death. That leaves the case in an uncomfortable middle ground.
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