Tributes have flooded in for Lewis Stevenson, who tragically fell 630 feet to his death from the Castilla La Mancha bridge on Sunday morning, October 13.
Stevenson was reportedly attempting to climb Spain’s highest bridge without safety equipment for a stunt video intended for social media. His family had urged him not to take on the dangerous challenge, but they mentioned that he “loved” performing stunts and always believed he would be fine.
Stevenson, 26, was recognized for showcasing his daring climbs on Instagram. His impressive collection included photos taken atop a New York skyscraper, one where he balanced on a metal beam overlooking London, and another featuring him hanging off a structure in Croatia.
After his death, authorities in Spain disclosed that he was accompanied by a 24-year-old friend. Reports indicate that the two were about a quarter of the way across the 630-foot (192-meter) bridge when he lost his grip and fell.
Local councillor Macarena Munoz has stated that access to the bridge is ‘completely prohibited’ following the recovery of Stevenson’s body at 7:14 AM on Sunday.
In a statement, the Talavera de la Reina Town Council reported, “Macarena Munoz, the Councillor for Citizen Security, has confirmed the tragic death of a young man who fell from the Castilla-La Mancha bridge.”
“He was a 26-year-old Englishman who fell while attempting to climb the bridge mentioned earlier. The councillor emphasized that this activity is completely prohibited and has been repeatedly stated as unacceptable under any circumstances.”
“Based on our findings, they had traveled to Talavera to climb the bridge and create content for social media, leading to this tragic and unfortunate outcome.
“The judge and forensic doctor have already given permission for the body to be removed, and it has been taken to the funeral home,” the statement concluded.
A spokesperson for the National Police in Toledo reported, “He was approximately 40 to 50 meters up, about a quarter of the total height of the bridge, when he fell.”
The statement further noted that “the cause of the fall is unclear and will be investigated by a local court,” with adverse weather conditions being considered as a possible factor.
Tributes from loved ones have begun to pour in, with grandfather Clifford Stevenson from Derby telling MailOnline, “We all tried to talk him out of it. We were always urging him not to do risky things, but that’s just who he was.
“He loved it and always believed he’d be okay. He pursued these activities for his own enjoyment, not for money; he was an adventurer,” the 70-year-old shared.
Fellow ‘rooftopping’ enthusiast Louie_W1 expressed his feelings on social media, saying, “Knowing you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
“Losing you is the deepest sorrow I’ve ever felt. No words in a simple Instagram post can truly capture how much I miss you.”
“You will always be the bravest, most caring, and funniest person I’ve ever known. I’m proud of every building, every rooftop, and every moment we shared together.
“My best friend, my brother. Rest easy; we’ll meet again one day,” he said emotionally.
“You will always be the bravest, most caring, and funniest person I’ve ever known. I’m proud of every building, every rooftop, and every moment we shared together.
“My best friend, my brother. Rest easy; we’ll meet again one day,” he said emotionally.
“I’m forever grateful for the opportunities you provided and the people you introduced me to.
“You’ve been a significant influence in my life, and your fearless mentality will stay with me always.
“It was an honor to be counted among your friends. Rest easy now, brother; I’ll see you in another life.”
