A DAD has spoken of his family's 'unbearable' loss after the tragic death of his 21-year-old son on the first day of his holiday in Benidorm.

Michael Jones, from Little Lever, fell over a low railing on the landing of the fourth level after returning from drinking with friends earlier this year, an inquest last week heard.

Now, in an emotional statement, his father Paul Jones has made a plea for other holidaymakers to be careful saying his family's loss is 'almost unbearable.'

Mr Jones said: “There is not a day goes by that Michael is not desperately missed by his family and friends, the pain that has been and is being felt by all is almost unbearable. 

"Though he will be absent from future memories, memories yet to be made, Michael remains a wonderful son, brother and so much more and will always be in our hearts. 

"We count the seconds, minutes and hours ever since Michael left us.”

Michael had been drinking since the evening before his flight, celebrating an England win in the World Cup. He continued to drink after arriving in Spain with his friends, returning early to his room alone.

“He did not have a room access card or phone with him to contact them and only had four euros and 50 cents in his pocket when found, so he couldn’t have gone ‘bar hopping’ to find them,” his dad said.

“[The railings] stand approximately three feet, three inches from the ground and are therefore very easy to lean against and fall over for a grown man.”

He added: “My belief is that Michael sat on the corner of the railings whilst waiting for his friends to return and fell backwards, falling some 60 feet below.”

Michael was best known for his passion for football.

Along with stints playing for Manchester City and United academies, he played for a host of local clubs including Ramsbottom, Walshaw and his home team Bolton Town.

In a eulogy read out by Mr Jones at Michael’s funeral, he said: “He lived for football and was a pleasure to watch, his blistering pace was hard to play against.”

He warned parents: “Cherish your children, tell them that you love them deeply, you never know if and when they will be taken from you.”