A children's support worker was struck repeatedly over the head with a glass bottle before being found dead in the sea on the last day of a lads' holiday in Ibiza, an inquest heard.
Anwaar Lahrichi-Greenwood, 24, was found floating in San Antonio harbour wearing only his socks after vanishing during a night out with pals in August 2018, the hearing on Wednesday was told.
A witness told the inquest he'd seen Anwar on the beach talking to three men - one of who "picked up an empty beer bottle and struck him three times over the head until it broke".
The witness claimed Anwaar "did not do anything to hit them back."
Police on the island initially ruled out foul play following the discovery of his body in the harbour, saying it was likely drowning or misadventure.
But his family demanded a full investigation after they discovered evidence of a fight with three men shortly before he vanished.
Anwaar's family has accused police of 'failing to investigate' and to secure vital evidence, including CCTV footage.
They also criticised paramedics who failed to take the Londoner to hospital despite his injuries.
The fitness fanatic had gone with friends to the Soul City nightclub near the harbour before he vanished in the early hours of Saturday, August 4, 2018.
His body was found and recovered 30 hours later by the Coastguard.
Investigations by the family established that he was attacked at around 5am on the town's promenade, close to the popular Eden nightclub.
The family even offered £5,000 to anyone who had information that led to a criminal charge.
Anwaar's friends gave witness statements to police in April this year, saying he broke his phone two days before he went missing after accidentally jumping into a swimming pool with it in his pocket.
Friend Darren Sarpong's witness statement was read out by North London Coroner Andrew Walker.
He said: "Anwaar died when we were on a short five-day break in Ibiza in the summer of 2018.
"I've known Anwaar since we were 14 growing up in Edmonton and going to youth clubs.
"We became close friends from 18, by staying fit and going to the gym, and we spent a lot of time together.
"He was a nice guy and liked to have a laugh.
"Anwaar and I shared a room. This was the third year running we'd gone on a break to Ibiza together.
"On August 4 like the rest of the week, we socialised, drank alcohol and partied at the nightclubs on the night before we returned to the UK.
"We went to the beach during the day, drank alcohol in our room from 8pm to 10pm. We bought whiskey and bottles of spirit which we drank in our room.
"We stayed at Soul City until 2am until it closed. I was near the door of the KFC chatting to a girl. [My friend] Aaron was there, but I couldn't see Anwaar.
"The girl said it was likely he went to the beach.
"I went to see if I could find Anwaar, I circled the club but I couldn't find him.
"I could not call Anwaar on his mobile phone as it was damaged and did not work.
"I went to look for him on the strip, but we thought he met a girl and might be with her so I went back to the hotel room.
"At 4am he still was not back at the room so I went out again to look for him, but had no joy and went to bed as we were flying back the next day at 10pm.
"At 9am, he had still not returned to the hotel. I packed his bag and explained the situation to his sister back home.
"I spoke to his mum also by phone and she advised to leave his passport and bag with the hotel reception for him if and when he returned.
"Still worrying, I went to the police station who reported him missing. I didn't have the money, but I was willing to stay in San Antonio to look for him.
"His mum said it was fine to come home and she was looking to fly out in the morning."
He added: "I was devastated by the news of Anwaar's death and I was upset I could not find him in San Antonio, and I could not be there when he needed me."
Tyler Jules-Nelson, who flew into Ibiza from Manchester, met Anwaar that night on the beach in San Antonio.
He said: "I remember chatting to a male and later found it was Anwaar.
"He was bubbly and in good spirits, standing in just shorts and trainers.
"I remember talking to him about fitness and he poked my friend in the belly when he sat down.
"The three of us had a couple of running races on the beach.
"We went back to our hotel, but decided to head back to the beach to watch the sunrise.
"When I got back I spotted Anwaar speaking to three men - probably local Spaniards.
"I'm not sure what happened, but one of the Spanish men picked up an empty beer bottle and struck him three times over the head until it broke.
"I think they thought Anwaar was being aggressive, but I don't think he was.
"We chased the three males and pulled the male back that hit Anwaar, but he shrugged me off. Anwaar did not do anything to hit them back.
"We came back and found a female attending to him who was on the phone to emergency services.
"He was groaning, but did not appear to be in a critical situation."
The inquest at North London Coroner's Court heard that later investigations by police in Ibiza found there was an 18-minute window when Anwaar could not be seen on CCTV footage between 5.28am and 5.46am.
After the attack, paramedics said Anwaar did not allow himself to be treated and walked off without their assistance.
He was seen on CCTV only wearing shorts that he attempted to secure around his waist several times as they were dropping down. Police were unable to identify the assailants.
Dr Simon Poole, a pathologist who gave evidence at the hearing, said he was unable to verify how or why Anwaar came to be in the water.
He said algae was found in his lungs, but there was no waterlogging in his stomach.
He also said there were no signs of hypothermia, suggesting that he died very quickly as he entered the water or died before he entered the water.
A toxicologist found the presence of alcohol, but no drugs in his system.
Dr Poole said: "Hypothermia was actively looked for, but could not be found.
"It is possible to die in water very rapidly, possibly as a result of the concussion, with no naked eye changes of hypothermia."
Una Morris, representing the family, requested the inquest to return an open conclusion.
Anwaar's family attended the hearing via video link.
Ms Morris said: "The family say the only short-form return can be an open conclusion.
"There is no considerable fact as to how Anwaar ended up in the sea. You have an absence of evidence. It does not show how he ended up there. This is because of the ineffective investigation carried out in Ibiza.
"The family carried out a number of investigations themselves, trying to get to the bottom of this.
"The statements you read out today were taken by the Metropolitan Police this year.
"The position the family is left in is they may never know exactly how he ended up in the water."
The Coroner said: "I'm in an agreement: we simply do not know.
"There is no evidence of how Mr Lahrichi-Greenwood came to be in the water or the condition he was in before he entered the water.
"We have heard that he had suffered blows to the head and may have found himself concussed. This would put that person at a higher risk of drowning.
"The only conclusion in this inquest can be an open conclusion.
"I just wanted to say how grateful to all for the work done to help the family in this case to find answers to what happened to Anwaar.
"I'm sorry as I'm sure you all are that we couldn't find the crucial piece of evidence how Mr Lahrichi-Greenwood was found in the water and how he came to enter the water and, perhaps most importantly, the condition he was in when he entered the water."
He added: "I offer the members of the family my deepest sympathies at this time."
