A British man and two French nationals have drowned in three separate incidents in Catalonia.
The unnamed UK national died after jumping from a tourist ferry in an apparent attempt to swim to the beach.
The victim, aged around 40, was travelling aboard the Dorimar ferry between Cambrils and Salou in Tarragona on Friday when the tragedy occurred.
According to reports in Diari de Tarragona, subsequently confirmed by sources from the Catalan government, the man was travelling with his father and brother.
At some point during the journey, the victim jumped from the vessel into the sea with the apparent intention of swimming to the shore.
His brother also jumped into the water.
The British man was ultimately unable to make it safely to shore and died from drowning.
His death marked the beginning of a tragic 24 hours on the Catalan coast.
On Saturday afternoon, a 78-year-old French man died while swimming at a beach in Lloret de Mar, Girona.
Catalonia’s 112 emergency service received the alert at around 3.15pm after the swimmer was pulled unconscious from the water.
Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
The Medical Emergency System (SEM) dispatched three ground units and an air unit, while three Mossos d’Esquadra units and Local Police were also mobilised.
Just hours later, another French national, aged 69, drowned while swimming at Rovellada beach in Colera, Girona.
Emergency services were alerted at 6.01pm. Two SEM ground units and an air unit were sent to the scene.
The three deaths have added to an already grim summer on Catalonia’s coastline.
Following the latest tragedy, 26 people have now died on Catalan beaches since the official summer bathing season began on June 15.
