In Salou, a 65-year-old tourist from Zamora died on Wednesday evening after losing consciousness while swimming at Llevant beach, near Els Pilons. Emergency services were called shortly after 7pm, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
The incident happened outside the beach lifeguard service hours. In May, the service operates in Salou, but its daily coverage ends at 6pm during the low season, which runs until 15 June. The emergency call was made at 7.30pm to 112, reporting an unconscious person in the water.
Ambulances from the SEM, Mossos d'Esquadra officers and a local police unit from Salou attended the scene. Resuscitation was attempted on the sand, but the man's death was confirmed. Mossos d'Esquadra secured the area and activated judicial procedures for the removal of the body.
Provisional information indicates that the man was a Spanish national aged around 65. That detail is still pending confirmation with his family, who were reportedly also on the beach at the time. The cause of death, whether a heatstroke or a pre-existing health issue, remains unknown pending an autopsy.
This is the first drowning death of 2026 in the Costa Daurada and Terres de l'Ebre area. It is also the third fatal drowning recorded in Tarragona province this year, although the previous two cases happened in different circumstances. For more local coverage, see our news page.
The first case, confirmed as a suicide, took place on 18 March when a 47-year-old man entered the sea in La Pineda with a kayak. The search for his body was delayed by 24 hours because of a lack of coordination between the Guardia Civil and Mossos d'Esquadra. Evidence later confirmed his death by self-harm.
The second sea-related death happened on 16 May, when a tourist from the United States fell into the marina at La Ràpita. She was pulled from the water alive, but died shortly afterwards at Amposta regional hospital.
