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'Our son died in Benidorm - we still don't know what happened'

Stephen Fairclough
BBC News
Family photo Nathan looking at the camera, he has very short brown hair and a trimmed beard. He is wearing sunglasses and a white textured t-shirt, with a black bag across his chest. He is sitting in an open air terrace with wooden pillars and views out to the sea, with a wicker chair and a table in the background. Family photo
Nathan Osman was found less than 24 hours after he arrived on holiday with friends

The family of a father-of-four who died while on holiday in Benidorm are flying to Spain to try and get answers about what happened in the hours before his death.

The body of Nathan Osman, 30, was found at the foot of a remote cliff on the outskirts of Benidorm less than 24 hours after he arrived on holiday with friends in September.

His family said attempts to use his bank cards were made the day after he died and fear others were involved before his death.

The Spanish authorities have agreed to meet with Nathan's family, who do not believe there has been an adequate investigation into what happened to him.

Nathan's brother Lee Evans and his sister Alannah are flying to Benidorm on Sunday, to try and speak directly with police about the investigation.

"We've been totally abandoned," Lee said. "There's been zero investigation and we are fighting for answers."

Police in Benidorm have not responded to a request to comment.

Family photo Nathan smiling at the camera. He is holding one of his young sons with one arm, with his daughter to one side of him and his two other sons on the other side. He is wearing a dark baseball cap with the New York Yankees logo on and a grey t-shirt. His sons are all wearing matching button-up shirts with oranges on, while his daughter has a dress made of the same patterned material. They are standing outside what looks like a cream-coloured corrugated caravan wall with a window in the top left corner. Family photo
Nathan has been described as a "devoted" father by his family

Nathan, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, had made a last minute decision to join his friends on a trip to Benidorm in September 2024.

The devoted dad had arrived on 27 September and after spending time with his friends, said he would walk back to his hotel on his own to sleep, because he was tired.

The following morning, his bed had not been slept in. Later that day, his body was found at the foot of a cliff by an off-duty policeman on a waterbike.

Lee does not believe Nathan made the journey to the remote location in the opposite direction to his hotel on his own, and said it would take an hour to walk up there.

He added Nathan had "no reason to be up there".

"We strongly believe he was taken up there, whether it was by taxi or against his own will," Lee said. "And something has happened for him to be found where he was found."

Family picture Nathan wearing sunglasses and standing on a sandy beach, with the sea behind him. He is not wearing a shirt, with a black bag strap across his chest. In the background there is a row of blue beach umbrellas and sun loungers. Family picture
Nathan on the day he arrived in Benidorm

The family said the day after his death attempts were made to use Nathan's bank cards, but this was not followed up by the authorities.

Alannah and Lee have also been tracing Nathan's known movements on the night. They said he had been on a video call with one of his friends until his phone battery ran out.

Carrying out their own investigations, the family discovered Nathan on public CCTV on the promenade, where they said he did not appear significantly intoxicated. They have found other premises with CCTV, but said the owners would not pass on any recordings without a request from the Spanish authorities.

The family said they had repeatedly tried to find out how the investigation into Nathan's death was progressing, but have been met with silence.

They recently received a police file which Alannah said was "empty", with the case described as closed.

Elizabeth and Jonathan look at the camera. They are sat on a sofa, Jonathan has a shaved head is wearing a dark top with a red Ralph Lauren polo logo, and Elizabeth has dark hair which is tied up and is wearing a black and white patterned top.
Nathan's parents Elizabeth and Jonathan flew to Benidorm and identified Nathan's body

Nathan's mother Elizabeth said there was "no empathy" from the Spanish police immediately after his death and claimed they were "treated like dogs".

Elizabeth said she had to identify her son by being shown a photo of a tattoo on his torso.

She said not knowing how he ended up at the remote location is torturous.

"Our boy deserves answers and we as a family deserve answers. Nathan wasn't a drunkard who'd go out and forget about everything. Nathan was really with it," she said.

"Not knowing about that last hour or two before his death, it's eating us away, day in day out, from the time we get up to the time we go to bed. We live this nightmare."

Nathan's father Jonathan said: "They've done nothing, nothing at all. It's just a total disregard for his life in every kind of way."

Lee has dark short hair and stubble, and is looking at the camera with a straight face. He is wearing a black sports jacket with a zip, and a green sofa cushion can be seen behind him. On the right hand side is a panelled wooden wall with a wood burner at the bottom, flames can be seen through the glass. Above, a black TV screen is mounted on the wall.
Nathan's brother Lee is flying to Benidorm to try and meet police

The family said they needed to travel to Benidorm because of their frustration and to hand police the information they have gathered about the time between Nathan leaving his friends and the discovery of his body.

The Spanish authorities have agreed to meet them and discuss their concerns.

Lee said the family will not give up in its quest to find out what happened.

"We'll keep going and going until we find out why - and how he got up there," he said.

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities."