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British man falls from 630ft bridge while taking Instagram picture in Spain

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1 month ago

October 16, 2024

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Man, 26, found dead after falling from 630ft bridge in Spain

Tributes paid to daredevil Lewis Stephenson who died after falling from Spain’s highest bridge

The first image of a British influencer who plummeted to his death while attempting to scale Spain’s highest bridge has been released. Lewis Stevenson reportedly ignored family advice against scaling the 630ft Castilla La Mancha in Talavera de la Reina, embarking on the climb without any safety gear.

He tried to take a daredevil snap for his social media but plunged to his death on Sunday. His Instagram features shots atop skyscrapers and massive landmark structures globally, including in New York City, all because the 26-year-old “did what he did for his own pleasure”.

‌Lewis’ death has left his relatives shattered. His girlfriend, Savannah Parker, described his death as “a nightmare”. Meanwhile, his grandfather Clifford Stevenson, 70, recounted: “We all tried to talk him out of it. We were always trying to talk him out of doing things but that was the way he was.

“He loved doing it, always went out there believing he’d be alright. He did what he did for his own pleasure. He did not get any money for it, he was an adventurer.”, reports the Mirror.

Following increasingly popular high-risk feats, Lewis had amassed quite the following on social media. A heartfelt message from one Instagram user read: “Knowing you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. And losing you is the greatest sadness of my life. No amount of words on a stupid Instagram post will ever describe how much I miss you.”

Another shared: “You will always be the bravest, most caring and funny person I’ve ever known. I’m proud of every building, every rooftop, every moment of our time together. My best friend, my brother. Rest easy, we’ll meet again one day.”

Lewis Stephenson died in a fall at the weekend

‌In a moving social media tribute accompanying a photo of Lewis perched on a New York City skyscraper, another urban explorer said: “In the past seven years you introduced me to a new understanding of freedom, which changed my perspective on life massively, giving me guidance on my own creative work always motivating me and inspiring me through your own creative consistency. I’m forever thankful for the opportunities you gave me and the people you introduced me too.”

Lewis’s girlfriend, Savannah, said: “It’s 5am and I haven’t eaten or slept. Someone tell me this is a nightmare. I feel violently sick at the fact you’re not coming back. Please come back. Answer the phone.”

It’s believed that Lewis worked an office job in Derby, living near his girlfriend Ms Parker. The dangerous hobby of climbing structures without safety gear, fuelled by the rise of social media, had captured Lewis’s daring spirit. He often exhibited his “rooftoping” escapades across the globe on his Instagram account under the name expedition.

‌Among the captured moments are heart-stopping images of Lewis standing atop a New York skyscraper and lounging on a beam above London’s skyline. Additional photographs displayed him dangling from a Croatian structure and atop a hotel roof in Mexico City.

Lewis was found dead beneath the Castilla la Mancha Bridge in Spain on Sunday. It remains uncertain how high Lewis had climbed when he lost his footing, but the bridge’s peak stands at 630ft. Spanish Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.