Tragedy as British tourist dies at beleaguered Spanish hotspot

A British tourist died in a suspected drowning on October 3 after going for a dip in the sea at a Costa Blanca beach in Spain.

Emergency services were called to the area as the 72-year-old was pulled unconscious from the water.

Attempts to revive him after it emerged he had gone into cardiac arrest were sadly unsuccessful.

The tragedy happened around 3.30pm local time (2.30pm BST) at a beach just south of the centre in the resort town of Guardamar del Segura, a short drive from the much-beloved Torrevieja.

Weather conditions were reportedly good and the sea was calm when the incident occurred. 

The holidaymaker has become the seventh person to die so far this year on a Guardamar beach.

Bryn Thomas, from Southampton, was one of two men who lost their lives in June at one of the local beaches – La Roqueta – as they were racing to help two children aged six and seven who got into difficulties.

An inquest was opened into the 52-year-old’s death in Winchester at the start of July. 

Four of the deaths that happened earlier in the year in the municipality of Guardamar, including that of Mr Thomas, occurred at the same beach of La Roqueta within just 48 hours.

The other fatalities included a 68-year-old Israeli and a German national.

Lifeguards are set to continue working in the area, where currents are known to be strong, until October 15.

Signs put up by the local council on beaches in English and Spanish warn bathers of dangerous ocean currents.