Spanish authorities are blaming the recent spate of injuries and deaths among young tourists on a dangerous game sweeping the internet. The popularity of “balconing”, leaping from balcony to balcony or into swimming pools, has led to a number of daredevil stunts going disastrously wrong with fatal consequences.

The craze, driven by videos on YouTube and social networking sites, has seen the number of falls from balconies in the Belarics this summer already top seasonal averages despite hotels putting measures in place to make it harder for people to climb over balconies.

'Balconing' accidents on the increase

There have been three deaths and several serious injuries amongst tourists already. Two British tourists are among the dead after falling from doing dares at resorts in Ibiza, according to local press reports. There have also been injuries to a Swedish man and a Briton after jumping from balconies in Calvià, Mallorca, while a 20-year old Italian woman was killed after falling four flights from her balcony in Palma, Majorca.

There have also been holiday makers injured on holiday in Ibiza and other Baleric Islands after jumping and falling from balconies.

There have been warnings to tourists from tour operators after hotel workers blamed alcohol and drugs for fuelling the risk taking “It’s been shown that when all these cases happened, they were the result of people having consumed too much alcohol or other substances,” said Sebastián Darder from a hotel managers association to journalists.

While the craze isn’t new, hoteliers are warning that his year seem to be the worst yet of incidents. Rafael Bosch, spokesman for the regional Balearic government, told the Guardian: "We will consider taking fresh measures. The incidents are very unfortunate and this is not the kind of tourism we wish to encourage."