Brit dies and another seriously injured in fall while taking selfie at beach in Spain

A man died in a 40ft fall at Punta Prima beach
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Natalia Penza4 July 2019

A British holidaymaker has died and another seriously injured after they plunged off a cliff while taking a selfie on Spain’s Costa Blanca.

They are believed to have fallen up to 40ft and landed on concrete near a lifeguards hut in Punta Prima near the town of Torrevieja.

The dead man, a 22-year-old, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The injured man, aged 21, was airlifted to Alicante Hospital after suffering multiple injuries.

Local reports described them as British men who were trying to take a photo when they fell.

A Civil Guard source said: “It appears the men fell after trying to take a picture on the wrong side of the railings overlooking the drop to the beach.”

A third man, aged 20, who was with the pair and is also understood to be British, was not physically injured.

Teacher Simon Davenport told Mirror Online: “They had fallen off the balcony even though there is a big handrail there.

“When I was there one of them was being resuscitated and there were lots and lots of medics there.”

The Civil Guard source added: “The local British consulate has been informed.

“One of the men died at the scene and another was taken to hospital by helicopter. He is in Alicante Hospital where he has been sedated.

“The third man was physically unharmed but suffered a panic attack and was taken to Torrevieja Hospital.

“It appears the men were taking a photo. The initial reports were that they had fallen from a height of around 40 feet.

“It is too early at this stage to speculate on exactly what happened and the police investigation into the cause is still in its infancy.”

Another source added: “Officers will be speaking to the man taken to Torrevieja Hospital as soon as possible to try to build up a better picture of what occurred.”

Paramedics and police rushed to the scene at around 7.30pm yesterday after the alarm was raised.

The spot where the men fell is near a set of steps and a lift leading to Punta Prima beach.

An autopsy was taking place later today at Alicante’s Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Punta Prima is popular with British tourists and expats, and the incident happened close to a busy beach bar and restaurant.

On Tuesday Luke Freeman, 19, from Reading, died after plunging from holiday apartments in the Costa Brava resort of Lloret de Mar.

On Monday, Ben Lloyd, 33, from Southend, Essex, died when he was dragged to sea at Benalmadena in the Costa del Sol.

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