The body of a US student has been found in the waters of Barcelona’s Port Olimpic after a days-long search.
James Gracey, 20, was discovered by Mossos d’Esquadra divers at a depth of four metres on Thursday evening, bringing a tragic end to a search that had grabbed headlines across Spain.
The Alabama student had been missing since the early hours of Tuesday, when he was last seen at the beachfront nightclub Shoko.
He had travelled to Barcelona with fellow students to visit friends and was due to return home on Saturday.
From the outset, police focused on the possibility of an accident, though no scenario was ruled out.
Investigators quickly gathered evidence suggesting the young man had headed towards the beach.
It came before his wallet was found floating in the sea. His mobile phone was also recovered after a passerby claimed to have found it on the beach.
These clues strengthened the theory that he may have entered the water.
Police launched an intensive search operation, with divers and boats combing the area around the port.
Despite rough sea conditions, officers continued the search, eventually locating his body at around 6pm.
His remains have since been transferred to the forensic institute for an autopsy.
Authorities say there are currently no indications of criminal involvement, with the investigation pointing towards a tragic accident.
The case has drawn significant attention in the United States, where family and friends have been following developments closely.
The young student’s father travelled to Barcelona to be present during the search efforts.
The investigation remains open, pending the results of the autopsy.
