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A British holidaymaker has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea at Benidorm’s Levante beach on Saturday August 30.

 

The 31-year-old man, who was visiting the Costa Blanca resort with friends, entered the water at around 8.00pm for what police have described as a late-night swim. He was accompanied by two companions, who managed to make it back to shore, but he disappeared from view and could not be found.

 

Emergency services were called immediately and a search operation began, but despite the efforts of bystanders and lifeguards the man’s body was discovered a short while later. Authorities have confirmed there were no signs of foul play and that the death was the result of a tragic accident.

 

The absence of active lifeguard cover at that time added to the risks, with officials again reminding beachgoers of the dangers of entering the sea outside supervised hours. Witnesses spoke of the shock and anguish at the scene as rescue teams tried in vain to save the tourist, underlining just how quickly the sea can turn against even confident swimmers.

 

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Just last week another drowning claimed the life of a man at La Mata beach in Torrevieja, the fourth such fatality in that resort alone this summer. Earlier in the year it was also reported that 2024 saw the highest number of drowning deaths in the neighbouring Region of Murcia in over a decade.

 

Spain’s coasts are a major draw for both locals and visitors, but these repeated tragedies highlight the very real risks. Night-time bathing, swimming in unsupervised areas and underestimating sea conditions are all factors that authorities warn can quickly turn deadly.

 

 

 

Image: Emilio Sánchez Hernández/Pexels