A HAMPSHIRE teenager who died on the penultimate day of his holiday after being assaulted outside a nightclub in the Greek resort of Malia was ‘unlawfully killed’ an inquest has ruled.

Archie Lloyd was celebrating the end of his A-Level exams with four friends during an Interrail Holiday when he was struck by a club promoter following an angry exchange in the early hours of August 6 last year.

Security guards told Greek police the 18-year-old Harrow pupil's friends refused to let him go to hospital after he fell against the curb outside the Cloud Nine venue.

Earlier, Mr Lloyd and best friend Andy Hutchinson obstructed two women and club promoter Sebastian Trabucatti from riding their mopeds past them.

Mr Hutchinson told Winchester Coroner's Court his friend yelled "one day you'll work for me" seconds before he was floored. One of the two girls on mopeds shouted "you deserved that", the hearing was told.

Mr Lloyd, from Micheldever near Winchester, was tended to "for three minutes" by medics before being given the all-clear, leaving Mr Hutchinson and others to take him back to their villa.

Mr Hutchinson said he was concerned for his friend and sought a second medical opinion when they got home, but the telephone number they were given did not reply.

The friends put gifted sportsman Mr Lloyd in the recovery position and fell asleep. However, they woke at midday and discovered blood on Mr Lloyd's pillow, who was unresponsive.

In his statements to Greek police, Mr Trabucatti - who the court heard was from England before working as a promoter in Greece - said he felt "threatened" by Mr Lloyd during the confrontation.

He said Mr Lloyd came at him "with his fists raised", something coroner Grahame Short said was unlikely given other witness statements.

Mr Trabucatti told police: "I didn't want to get in a fight. I felt that I was threatened so I slapped him (Mr Lloyd).

"The deceased, due to the alcohol, stumbled and fell. When he sat back up I saw him talking to his friend."

Mr Trabucatti said he went to check on Mr Lloyd and was content he was okay.

He added: "I'm sorry about what happened to the young man but do not consider myself responsible for his death."

The court heard Mr Trabucatti has been charged with manslaughter in Greece but has yet to enter a plea. A trial would likely be held next year.

Coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of death due to unlawful killing.

Mr Short, said: “Based on the evidence, I am sure that Mr Lloyd was struck in the face and I find it proven beyond all reasonable doubt that this was a deliberate and intentional act.

“I don't find there was any intention to cause death.

“But it was the inadvertent consequences that Mr Lloyd was knocked backwards and struck the back of his head, and death resulted.”

Following the inquest the family of Archie Lloyd described the 18-year-old as a boy who grasped every opportunity afforded to him.

Archie was the youngest son of James and Claire Lloyd and the brother of Hector and Hugo and younger twin sisters, Kitty and Flora.

They said he was a lifelong Arsenal fan and talented sportsman, who had won a gap year travel scholarship to learn Mandarin and coach football in China.

To remember him they have pledged to set up a charitable foundation in his name to support young people motivated to fulfil their potential.

A statement from the family, said: “We have been left totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful brother and son but we know he will live on in all those who were ever fortunate enough to have met him.

“Archie was ready to take on the world, realising his dreams to study at university and travel when he tragically died this summer. Archie was on a carefully planned and greatly anticipated trip across Europe with four friends from school. The boys had just finished their A-levels and Archie had just had his 18th birthday.

“He had his whole life ahead of him when, on a harmless night out, everything went tragically wrong and so many lives have been shattered as a result.”