Heavily decomposed body found floating off the coast of Tabarca, Alicante
Investigators believe woman may have drowned at sea up to two months ago
Alicante’s Guardia Civil is investigating after a decomposing body was discovered floating in the sea around two nautical miles off the coast of Tabarca Island, Alicante last Saturday May 31.The body, which had clearly been in the water for several weeks, was spotted by a caller to the 112 emergency hotline. Responders from the Guardia Civil’s Maritime Service arrived at the scene and recovered the remains, which were then transferred to the port of Santa Pola before being sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Alicante.
Due to the body’s advanced state of decomposition, it was initially impossible to determine whether it belonged to a man or a woman. However, following an autopsy carried out on Monday June 2, it was confirmed that the deceased was a woman believed to be aged between 30 and 40.
At this stage, the most likely explanation under consideration by investigators is that the woman drowned while attempting to cross the Mediterranean by boat. “Based on the condition of the body, we believe she may have died at sea about a month ago,” said a source close to the investigation.
Another report, however, suggests that she may have been in the water for even longer. According to Spanish newspaper Información, limpets were found attached to her clothing, leading some experts to believe she could have been in the sea for up to two months.
The identity of the woman remains unknown, and the Guardia Civil’s Judicial Police have now taken over the case as efforts continue to piece together who she was, how she died and what circumstances led to her tragic end off the coast of southern Spain.
So far, no other details have been released. Efforts are now underway to formally identify the woman and establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
Image: Orsi Oletics Herczog/Pixabay
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