THE girlfriend of a 22-year-old man who fell 40ft to his death while attending a music festival has voiced her concerns about safety at the event.

Jon Fisk, of Bishopsteignton, Shoebury, died in July last year while attending a music festival with university friends in Serbia.

An inquest heard the popular University of Hull graduate fell between 35 and 40ft off a sheer drop on to a concrete path while at the Exit music festival, at Petrovaradin fortress in Novi Sad.

Coroner Dr Peter Dean read an eyewitness statement from Jon’s friend, Safwon Suleyman.

Mr Suleyman, who first met Jon at University in 2006, said Jon had been walking from the campsite with friend Jo Hyland some time after midnight when the tragedy happened.

He said: “Jon and Jo walked up the hill and I saw Jo walk through a line of trees waving and then they went out of sight.

“A few minutes after, I heard Jo shout ‘get an ambulance’. I looked down and saw Jon on the floor.”

Jon was rushed to hospital, but died from head injuries a short time later.

Jon’s girlfriend, Megan French, spoke at the inquest.

She raised the question of safety at the site, as there were no barriers in place at the point where Jon died. She said: “In 2008, a girl was killed at the campsite when a tree branch fell on a tent with two girls in – both were taken to hospital, one died and the other was seriously injured.

“A lot of British citizens go there – something needs to be done about it.”

Dr Dean said if there were matters which could reduce the risk of future tragedies they would be welcome, but the inquest was about fact-finding, not fault-finding.

The Fisk family lived for a time in Brunei, before moving to England in 1990, where Jon went to Bournes Green Junior School and Southend High School for Boys. He also attended South East Essex College before studying aquatic zoology at university.

Jon had hoped to pursue a career as a diver, and was planning to attend a commercial diving course at Fort William, in Scotland.

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Dr Dean said: “This was a very tragic accident that took place and led to the very sad death of Jon.

“Our thoughts are very much with his family and friends.”

The Fisk family said in a statement following the inquest: “We hope the outcome of today is it goes some way to safeguard and protect other people who go to the festival.”