On Saturday, the body of 49-year-old Patricio F.C. was found floating 500 metres off San Cristóbal beach, more or less in front of Hotel Almuñécar Playa.

It was probably the first beach day of the year; plenty of sun and a calm sea, yet it was also to be the first drowning death of the season.

Little information is available yet, but it appears the body had been in the water for around ten to twelve hours. As soon as the body was sighted, the Guardia Civil, maritime-rescue launch based at Motril port was alerted. Once it arrived, the body was retrieved and taken to Marina del Este to await a coroner so that it could be taken to the morgue.

Patricio F.C., who is an Almuñequero, is reported to have had health problems. This article will be updated as more is known.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)