Service of remembrance tonight for islander who died in Magaluf

Friday 07 July 2017

Etienne Hampton, who died in a Majorcan hospital after an accident while on holiday, will be remembered today during a service held at 18:00 at St. Paul's Church.

The 29-year-old man, who has been described as a devoted father to his four-year-old daughter, died on 20 June after jumping into the water from a party boat.

He had been partying with more than 240 other guests a boat known as the "No1 Booze Cruise" in Magaluf on 18 June. It is unclear how he got in the water but other partygoers on the boat indicated he had been given CPR, before being taken to a hospital in Palma, where he died two days later. It emerged earlier this week that the Spanish authorities were investigating the circumstances of Etienne's death.

Shortly after the tragic incident, Etienne's uncle, Ben Hampton started a crowdfunding campaign "...to help pay to bring him back to Jersey for burial and to pay the funeral costs and medical expenses incurred in Majorca." They later decided, upon advice from the British Consulate and funeral directors in Jersey, to have Etienne cremated in Majorca, before returning him home. 

The page quickly reached its goal of £8,000 prompting a thankful message from Ben Hampton to all contributors "...for your fabulous donations and heart-felt words." 

Family and friends of Etienne will gather today in St. Paul's Church at 18:00 for a service of remembrance. Posting again on the crowdfunding page, Ben Hampton said:  "All are welcome to come along."

In lieu of flowers, the family will "gratefully" accept donations to the JustGiving page. Any additional money collected will go toward supporting Etienne's four-year-old daughter.