Body found after Brit, 23, went missing swimming in European holiday hotspot | World | News

Portugal’s National Maritime Authority confirmed that the 23-year-old went missing on Thursday while swimming with a 19-year-old man, also from England, at Peneco Beach in Albufeira, on Portugal’s southern coastline.

Portuguese police say the body believed to be that of the missing man was recovered off the coast of Albufeira on Tuesday afternoon.

Portuguese police said in a statement: “Following a warning from a nearby fisherman at 18.37, officers from the Portimao Local Marine Police Command, Albufeira Volunteer Firefighters Humanitarian Association and Albufeira Municipality Civil Protection Service were mobilized.” he said.

“Upon arrival on scene, members of the Marine Police, in collaboration with the Fire Department, transported the victim to Albufeira Marina.”

A local Marine Police official said: “Death was confirmed at the scene and after contacting the Prosecutor’s Office, the body was transported by the Fire Service to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences in the Western Algarve.

“The British Consulate in Portimao was contacted and informed about the incident.

“The Portimao Local Command of the Marine Police claimed responsibility for the incident.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment.

According to the National Maritime Authority, a search operation was launched after the man disappeared last Friday.

The 19-year-old British national, who was next to the 23-year-old boy, “apparently managed to get out of the water with his own means to seek help, and then the other one disappeared.”