A senior coroner has criticized the management of a Polish hotel for refusing to provide CCTV footage that might shed light on the death of British businessman Steve McBride. The 40-year-old recruitment expert died after falling 36 feet from the rooftop of the four-star Hotel Bania in Bialka Tatrzanska while on a team-building trip.
Senior coroner for East London, Graeme Irvine, described the hotel's refusal to hand over footage as "shameful," stating that it was a reasonable request to aid a legal procedure. The hotel is located near the Slovakian border.
McBride, a father of three and co-founder of the recruitment consultancy Discover International, fell from the hotel roof on the evening of his death. Evidence suggests he had gone out to fetch his room keys after a meal and drinks with colleagues. He reportedly left his room, opened a corridor window, and went onto the sloped roof. It is believed he lost his balance and fell onto another building before dropping to the ground.
His body was discovered the following day by colleagues returning from a quad biking excursion. Hotel security had reportedly advised employees to follow specific routes due to the building's disorienting layout.
McBride's widow, Laura McBride, who is a banking professional, hired a private investigator to ascertain the circumstances of her husband's death. The inquest heard that toxicology reports indicated McBride had a blood alcohol concentration of 1.9, more than double the drink-drive limit, but the coroner stated this had not contributed to his death and that he was in good health. Suicide was also ruled out, with the coroner noting McBride had been in good spirits and looking forward to the birth of his third child.
However, the coroner concluded there was insufficient evidence for a verdict of accidental death and recorded an open verdict. He expressed condolences to Mrs. McBride, whom he praised for her assistance during the hearing. Discover International, McBride's company, specializes in life sciences and had a turnover of £21 million in 2024.
Adam Matthews, McBride's business co-founder, paid tribute to him on LinkedIn, describing him as a "brilliant friend and business partner" and a "loving husband and father." McBride's third daughter was born shortly after his death.