A British tourist has drowned in Benidorm after jumping into the sea for a late evening swim.
Police confirmed the 31-year-old was found lifeless after struggling to return to the resort’s famous Levante beach.
He had gone into the water with at least two other British friends who returned unscathed.
Video footage shows a concerned crowd gathering on the beach as police arrived at the scene.
A National Police source said this morning: ‘Yesterday about 8pm several British nationals were on Benidorm’s Levante Beach.
‘One of them went into the sea and was unable to return to dry land.
‘Several people tried to rescue him but it proved impossible.
‘Coastguards were mobilised but were unable to locate him. Some time later his body washed up on the shoreline.
‘He was already dead at that point.’
A police spokesman added: ‘I can confirm a British man aged 31 died in Benidorm last night in a suspected drowning.
An investigation is underway but there is nothing pointing to this death being suspicious in any way.’
Another well-placed insider said: ‘We believe this man was a tourist.
‘He was with two friends. They got out of the water okay and he remained in the sea and got further and further away from the coastline.’
A Benidorm town hall source said: ‘It appears this man went into the sea and couldn’t get out.
‘The lifeguard service had finished for the day by the time this happened.’
One local commenting on the tragedy on social media said late last night: ‘Sad scenes on the beaches tonight. Three lads believed to be British have got into difficulty in the sea. One has been recovered so far.’
A recent British visitor replied saying: ‘Just back from Benidorm.. we went to the beach a few times late at night and as beautiful as it was the water was extremely choppy, even the water at my ankles felt too much as I can’t swim.
‘I could not imagine actually being in the water. The ocean is a powerful thing not to be messed with. Very sad news to hear.’
Footage from the scene of the tragedy showed a group of locals and holidaymakers crowding around police who had responded to the emergency. Waves were crashing down on the shoreline, indicating the sea conditions were not the best.
In April a British man’s body was found washed up on a beach in Benidorm.
He was later named as Jeff Duffield as relatives paid tribute to him.
His wife had previously posted an appeal to find him, saying: ‘My husband Jeff Duffield has been missing in Benidorm since 12.30 23/04/2025.
‘I’ve reported it to police if anyone sees him. Please could you contact me, I’m worried sick. Thank you.’
In March British groom-to-be Oliver Holroyd, 29, a dad-of-one from Halifax, West Yorkshire, collapsed and died in front of his father and friends in a bar in Benidorm while he was celebrating his stag do.
Bystanders and paramedics worked for over an hour to revive him but he was ultimately pronounced dead at the resort’s Funky Flamingo bar.
In May father-of-three Joseph McManus collapsed and died hours after arriving in Benidorm.
A pal told the Liverpool Echo after news of the tragedy emerged that he had only decided to go on the trip at the last minute after other pals had dropped out.
Lee Beck, 42, said Joseph was a ‘big cuddly bear’.
He added: ‘Joseph was a happy-go-lucky guy. He was kind and caring. He was always stopping people in the street and asking them how they were.’