A paddleboarder has died after falling and hitting his head on a rock off a Fuengirola beach.

The tragedy unfolded at Playa Carvajal at around 6.30pm on Tuesday, in front of the Oasis beach bar on the Paseo Maritimo Rey de España.

According to municipal sources, the man had been using a paddleboard when he fell into the water and struck a partially submerged rock.

Other beachgoers raised the alarm after noticing that the man had suffered a serious blow to the head.

Lifeguards and medical personnel attached to the beach rescue service immediately began treating him at the scene, which was crowded with bathers at the time.

Emergency service 112 Andalucia said it received several calls reporting that a swimmer had fallen in the rocky area.

Lifeguards and medical personnel carried out resuscitation attempts for around 40 minutes, but were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Additional medical teams dispatched by 112 were also unable to revive him.

The exact cause of death has yet to be established, and emergency officials said they could not confirm whether the incident should be classified as a drowning.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.