20-Year-Old Found Dead at Bottom of Elevator Shaft During Vacation

A young man’s vacation turned into a heartbreaking tragedy when his body was discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft at a hotel in Antalya, Turkey. Tyler Kerry, 20, from Basildon, Essex, was found on November 29, just days into what was meant to be a joyful trip with his girlfriend, Molly, and other relatives.

The incident occurred at the Trendy Lara Hotel, where Tyler was reportedly on his first vacation abroad with Molly, his grandparents, and several family members. The couple had only been in Turkey for two days, making the events that unfolded even more devastating.

According to Turkish police, Kerry had been drinking before his death. No signs of foul play, such as gunshot or sharp object injuries, were found on his body. However, the circumstances surrounding his death remain mysterious. The elevator at the hotel had been out of service at the time, leading authorities to question how he ended up in the shaft. Kerry’s family has raised concerns, calling his death “suspicious,” and is seeking to fund a criminal investigation through a GoFundMe campaign.

His great-uncle, Alex Price, shared the heartbreak his family is experiencing. “He was a young man at the beginning of his life,” Price told The Times. “He had a girlfriend he was devoted to, and it was their first holiday together. It was his first time abroad.”

On the night before the discovery, Tyler stayed out later than his family, watching a Manchester United game. At some point after, he was reported missing. His family later found a blood-stained vape on the hotel’s first floor, fueling suspicions. Tyler’s brother, Mason Read, led the search, which ultimately led to the grim discovery of his brother’s body in the elevator shaft.

The family had been enjoying drinks at the hotel bar when Tyler, who had fallen asleep on a sofa, went missing. His girlfriend, Molly, was the first to find him, dropping to her knees in horror. “Molly ran over, dropped to her knees and just started screaming, ‘Tyler, get up’,” Read recalled, speaking of the heart-wrenching moment he will never forget. “It was… heartbreaking. I never, ever thought I would see anything like that in my entire life.”

With no answers yet, Tyler’s family is left grappling with an unbearable loss and demanding justice. The GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses and support the investigation has already raised over $7,000.

As of now, neither the Turkish police, the hotel, nor the UK-based travel agency TUI Group have provided further statements on the case.