Redcliffe Dolphins player Liam Hampson has been found dead after an accident in a Barcelona nightclub. His death followed pleas from NRL players concerned for his welfare.
Hampson, 24, was on an end of season trip and had not been seen for 30 hours after going missing on a holiday with several players from NRL teams.
Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reports Hampson was found by workers in the leisure complex at nightclub Sala Apolo.
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The report states the club was the last place Hampson was seen and that he fell from a height of 10 metres.
Police told the publication they’re treating the death as an accident.
“Police located the lifeless body of the Australian person that had previously been reported as missing today at noon (Barcelona time). Workers at a nightclub in Paral.lel found the lifeless body of a man and alerted police at lunchtime,” a spokeswoman for the Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan Police, said.
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“After carrying out the regular checks it was confirmed it was that of a person that has been listed as missing since Tuesday. It is an accidental death after falling from a height of about 10 metres.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released a statement a short time ago.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man who died in Barcelona, Spain,” they said in a statement.
“We extend our condolences to his friends and family. Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment.”
The tragic news comes after desperate pleas from Gold Coast Titans player AJ Brimson and Brisbane Broncos duo Jordan Riki and Jesse Arthars, who took to Instagram in an effort to track Hampson down.
Images from their social media accounts show the group spent time holidaying in Munich, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Positano and Paris before they travelled to Barcelona.
Photos posted to Brimson’s and Hampson’s Instagram show the friends were on a trip of a lifetime. One photo on Hampson’s account had the caption saying, “My life is fantastic.”
In a post on Facebook, his father Brett wrote the family was “devastated” to wake up to the news.
“Waking up to the news no one wants to hear, we are devastated to find out that Liam had an accident and sadly has not survived,” he wrote.
“We are heartbroken to say the least. Liam had a heart of gold and was a much loved son, brother, grandson, uncle and friend. Words can not express our grief.
“We can not thank his mates enough for being there with Liam having the time of his life and assisting in the search for our boy. Our thoughts are with them.
“We are asking the media to respect our privacy as we work through this time.”
Hampson’s sister Tiarna also confirmed the “saddest news possible”.
“We are devastated to find out Liam had an accident and did not survive,” Tiarno wrote.
“We are so heartbroken. Liam was the best brother I ever could of asked for and made me a better person.
“We cannot express our grief.
“We cannot thank the boys he was travelling with enough for assisting with his search and made sure his last days were the best of his life. Going to miss you so much, Liam.”
The 24-year-old Hampson played three seasons for Tweed Seagulls before his move to Redcliffe for 2022.
He attended Keebra Park State High School on the Gold Coast with Brimson and they both played their junior rugby league together for the Seagulls.
Both the Australian consulate and Hampson’s family have been contacted by Spanish authorities.
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