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Turkey hotel lift death was murder, says brother

John Fairhall/BBC Mason Read, who is wearing a white coat with a collar around his neck and a white T-shirt. He has light brown hair in curtains and is looking to the right of the camera with a slight pout. There are yellow curtains behind him.John Fairhall/BBC
Mason Read, pictured, said he wanted to see justice for his brother

A 20-year-old British tourist found dead in a lift shaft in Turkey was murdered, his brother has claimed.

Tyler Kerry, from Basildon, Essex, was discovered on Friday morning at the Trendy Lara Hotel in Antalya.

Younger sibling Mason Read, who was one of the people who found him unresponsive, said he was "100%" convinced Mr Kerry was killed by someone.

The BBC has contacted Turkish police for comment.

Mr Kerry arrived in Turkey with his grandparents, girlfriend Molly and other relatives on 27 November.

A group of them were enjoying a drink at the hotel bar in the early hours of Friday when the labourer, who had fallen asleep on a sofa, vanished.

Alex Price Tyler Kerry, who has brown hair swept across his head and is pouting. A woman with blonde hair has her arm around him and is doing a peace sign with her fingers while sticking her tongue out.Alex Price
Tyler Kerry was described by his brother as "the best in every single way possible"

Mr Read said he found his brother fatally injured at the bottom of the lift shaft in the hotel basement during a panicked search.

"Molly ran over, dropped to her knees and just started screaming 'Tyler, get up'," the 18-year-old told the BBC.

"It was heart-wrenching, heartbreaking. I never, ever thought I would see anything like that in my entire life.

"To the day I die I'm never going to be able to take my mind off it."

During searches, Mr Kerry's vape was found covered in blood on the hotel's first floor - Mr Read said.

He was discovered "flat on his face" wearing just a pair of boxers and socks, the family previously said.

Collette Kerry Tyler Kerry is sat in a black top and shorts. He has a drink in his hand which appears to be a pink-coloured cocktail.Collette Kerry
Mr Read said the family were "living in the dark" as the police investigation continued

Mr Read said he believed the police should be treating his brother's death as a murder investigation.

"My brother's been killed, 100%," he said. "I want to see justice for my boy.

"It's killing me sitting here thinking of everything that could’ve happened to him.

"Me and the family, we can't cope just living in the dark. We need to know now."

The pair's grandmother, Collette Kerry, told the BBC that police were treating Mr Kerry's death as suspicious.

She booked the holiday in February as a "treat" because none of her grandchildren had ever holidayed abroad.

John Fairhall/BBC Ray and Collette Kerry sat next to each other. Ray has a shaved head and is wearing a black and white chequered shirt. Collette is wearing a leopard print top and has her grey hair tied in a bun. Both are serious in their expression and sat in front of yellow curtains.John Fairhall/BBC
Mr Kerry's grandparents, Ray and Collette Kerry, organised the holiday as a treat

However, on the second night of the trip, the 56-year-old and her husband, Ray, were awoken by banging on the door to inform them of Mr Kerry's death.

"It was a family holiday of a lifetime for us that turned into a nightmare," she added.

A spokesman for the hotel said staff would continue to support the family through the "incredibly difficult time".

He shared his "heartfelt condolences" and added: "As this is a police investigation we are unable to comment further."

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