Policia Nacional officers have saved a man from drowning after he was allegedly mugged and thrown into the sea on the Costa del Sol.
The victim was allegedly attacked near the Virgen del Carmen breakwater, which separates the beaches of La Malagueta and La Caleta in Malaga city.
Police sources told La Opinion de Malaga that a manhunt is underway for two suspected attackers.
The incident occurred at around 7.30am on Saturday, when several people spotted a man in the water struggling to stay afloat and shouting for help.
A Policia Nacional patrol car was first to arrive at the scene, and two officers immediately entered the water with their rescue equipment.
They swam out towards the victim, who was initially more than 100 metres from the shore, and after several tense minutes managed to bring him safely to land near the El Cachalote beach bar.
The victim, who is homeless and described as a 43-year-old foreign national, told officers he had been sleeping on the rocks when two individuals assaulted him, stole his belongings and threw him into a deep section of the water where he could not touch the bottom.
He also told police he could barely swim, and that the lack of light at that early hour made it impossible to orient himself towards the beach.
A medical team treated him for mild hypothermia, but both he and the officers are said to be in good condition.
Police added they are making arrangements to find temporary accommodation for the victim and have launched enquiries to identify and locate those responsible.
Read more Costa del Sol news at the Spanish Eye.
