A British tourist has died in northern Spain as Storm Nelson hits parts of the country.
He lost his life after falling into the sea from a quay near the mouth of an estuary.
The tragedy occurred in a former fishing village that is now a marina called San Esteban de Pravia, part of the municipality of Muros de Nalon, Asturias, Spain.
The unnamed Briton, aged in his 50s, had traveled to the area with his wife for a short vacation, according to the local mayor.
His body was found shortly before 2pm this afternoon, around an hour after the alarm was first raised.
A British tourist died after falling into the sea from a quay in San Esteban de Pravia, Principality of Asturias, Spain
A local report said he fell from the end of a breakwater after walking with his wife.
He said he ended up being knocked over by a rogue wave and hit his head after going up the breakwater wall.
Unconfirmed reports this afternoon said he was seen taking photos before being thrown into the water.
A spokesperson for a government-run regional emergency response coordination center said: “The group of Asturias firefighters, on board the medical helicopter of the Principality of Asturias Emergency Service (SEPA ), rescued the lifeless body of a man who had fallen into the sea at the San Esteban breakwater, in Muros del Nalón.
“His body was evacuated to the breakwater where the Civil Guard took charge of the situation.
“The deceased was located in the San Esteban estuary and was evacuated to the helicopter using a crane mechanism in which 30 meters of cable were deployed.
“The Asturias Emergency Coordination Center received a call at one minute past 1 p.m., informing them that a man had just fallen into the sea.
“The rescue group and the emergency response helicopter were mobilized as well as another team of firefighters.
“The Red Cross and Coast Guard were also alerted but ultimately were not involved.
“The victim’s body was located and recovered at 1:48 p.m. and transported to the breakwater.”
Local reports said the Briton was making a first visit to the region after traveling to Muros de Nalon with his partner from the city of Valladolid, 200 miles to the south.
They had arrived yesterday, rented an apartment and planned to spend Easter there.
The woman from whom they rented the apartment spoke to them shortly after their arrival about the bad weather of the following days.
It is not yet known whether the deceased’s partner is also British and whether the couple lived in the UK or Spain.
The mayor of Muros de Nalon, Celestino Novo, said: “They had come to spend a week of vacation in our municipality and this tragedy occurred. I am so devastated.
A witness revealed to Commerce: ‘The man stood up for a moment to look at the waves and when he turned to join his wife who remained further back, a wave swept him away’.
The tourist was one of four people killed in Storm Nelson today in Spain.
A woman fell into the sea in the port of Cudillero, also in Asturias, and died after being hit by rocks, reported Telecinco.
A teenager died drowned in Tarragona, on the eastern coast of the country, as well as a 30-year-old German who saw him in difficulty and tried to rescue him.
The Emergency Service of the Principality of Asturias (SEPA) has advised residents and tourists not to approach cliffs, promenades and dangerous areas where strong gusts of wind can cause falls and, on the coast , they can be washed into the sea.
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