Gary Martin, 33, a painter and decorator, fell from outside his sixth floor apartment after the night out with friends and family in Gran Canaria.

An inquest at Leeds Coroner's Court yesterday heard that Mr Martin, of Esthwaite Gardens, off Halton Moor Road, Leeds, and who had a fear of lifts, was discovered lying face down in a service area on the ground floor.

The court heard he was only found when a member of his family, concerned he had not returned to the apartment, rang his mobile phone and heard it ringing from where his body lay more than 30m below.

Mr Martin had jetted out to Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, with friends and family including long-term partner Norma Saddington and eight-year-old son Jason, just before Christmas 2008 on a two-week break.

Mr Martin had been staying with his family at the eight-storey Castillo De Sol apartments.

Other members of the group were staying at another nearby complex.

On December 31, the group had gone out for a meal and then on to a number of bars, finishing up in Snoopy's Disco Bar where they had seen in the New Year.

Afterwards, Ms Saddington had taken couple's son back to the apartment while Mr Martin stayed out.

CCTV cameras in the reception area of the apartments captured him returning alone just after 3.20am on the morning Jan 1.

He is then thought to have climbed the 99 steps to his apartment, which he did because of his dislike of lifts.

But as he made his way along the corridor leading to his apartment, he fell over the 1.7m adjoining wall onto the hard paved service area on the ground floor.

His partner's daughter Sammi Butterfield came back to the apartment at around 7am when members of the group became aware Mr Martin had not returned.

She rang his mobile phone and heard the ringtone from underneath the entrance to the apartment.

When she looked over the wall, she saw Mr Martin lying below and screamed for her mother.

A post-mortem report revealed he died of multiple injuries consistent with a fall from height.

A full investigation found no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Martin's death.

Recording an open verdict, West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff said: "What started out as a most pleasant and convivial evening with a family on holiday enjoying New Year celebrations has turned out to be the most appalling of tragedies."

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Martin's brother Paul told the YEP: "What was said in the inquest makes sense and adds up. The only thing that doesn't add up is how he fell over the wall, but we'll never know.

"But Gary was a great friend, a great bloke and a great dad."