A British tourist has died after jumping from a ferry into the sea off Spain’s Costa Daurada, reportedly “to swim to a beach bar” before he tragically drowned
A British tourist has drowned after leaping into the sea from a sightseeing ferry off Spain’s Costa Daurada, allegedly “to swim to a beach bar”.
The 45-year-old man was journeying with his brother and parents on a ferry between the neighbouring coastal resorts of Cambrils and Salou in Catalonia, in the country’s north-east, when the tragedy occurred on Friday evening.
The man allegedly “threw himself from the window” of the ferry, which was mere minutes from docking at Salou port, seemingly planning to swim to the shore, according to local publication Diari de Tarragona. His 42-year-old brother is reported to have followed him into the water but survived.
The Diari de Tarragona stated: “The circumstances of the drowning are surprising, since the victim jumped into the water from a tourist ferry that makes the Cambrils-Salou route and vice versa (from port to port) voluntarily.”
He is the 14th person to have perished off the Tarragona coastline so far this summer, and the first to die in September, reports the Mirror. The publication claimed moments before leaping from the window, the brothers had “wanted to drink beer on board” the ferry but were denied by the captain.
The crew contacted the emergency services at 6.41pm local time (5.41pm BST), reporting the two men had jumped overboard. Maritime Rescue teams were subsequently dispatched to search for them.
The parents of the brothers stayed on the ferry. They reportedly stated their sons were proficient swimmers and were confident they would reach the beach.
The man’s body was retrieved, with officers from Mossos d’Esquadra sealing off the area. A forensic doctor arrived at the scene at 9.25pm local time (8.25pm BST) to oversee the removal. The Civil Guard in Tarragona is probing the circumstances surrounding the death.
The outcome of an autopsy is pending and is anticipated to determine the exact cause of death. The man’s parents provided accounts of the events at the marina in Salou prior to being notified of their son’s death. Psychologists were summoned to provide support to the family.