A British tourist alleges that he was sprayed with pepper spray by a bouncer “while filming his friend dancing” at a bar in a popular vacation destination. Joe Snowball traveled to Benidorm on September 8 to create content with two friends for a video about the resort. The 22-year-old recounted that while they were drinking on their final night, a man approached them and guided them to a different bar.
According to Joe, trouble started when he began recording his dancing friend and a waitress insisted he delete the video from his phone. When Joe expressed his intention to delete the footage himself, the situation escalated, resulting in a bouncer allegedly pepper spraying both Joe and his friend.
Video footage captured the distressed men with bloodshot eyes sitting outside the bar as milk was poured over their heads in an attempt to alleviate the burning sensation from the pepper spray. Joe described the pain in his face and eyes lasting two days before subsiding, while his friend had to seek medical attention back in the UK.
Despite trying to seek help from the police in Benidorm, Joe claimed they ignored him and drove away. Joe, hailing from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, stated, “We were able to capture great content and wanted to celebrate, but we had consumed too much alcohol.”
Recounting the incident, Joe mentioned, “A man approached us as we exited one of the bars. In our intoxicated state, we followed him under the promise of free drinks and entry into a bar.” He continued, “I began filming my friend dancing, but filming was prohibited in the establishment. A waitress took my phone, attempted to delete the video, and eventually accessed the recently deleted folder.”
Joe described the chaotic scene that followed, with the bouncer using pepper spray on them, leaving him temporarily blinded and in excruciating pain. The use of milk to alleviate the effects of the pepper spray was suggested by a bystander, but Joe’s friend suffered more severe consequences, requiring eye treatment due to a corneal issue.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Joe shared, “The next day, I had light sensitivity in my eyes, but within two days, I had recovered. The pepper spray caused intense burning and discomfort, affecting not just my eyes but my entire face.”
Joe expressed disappointment in the lack of support from the police and the closure of the bar when he returned the next day. He concluded by stating that the experience in Benidorm reinforced its reputation as a challenging holiday spot in Europe, leading him to be more cautious in his interactions with nightlife staff in the future.