ARCHIVED - Another beach tragedy after man drowns at La Mata beach in Torrevieja

Two women were rescued as the drama unfolded on the Vega Baja coastline, Alicante province.

A 62-year-old man has drowned while swimming at La Mata beach in Torrevieja, the second casualty in two days on the Costa Blanca after a diver lost his life diving at a cove in Javea in the Marina Alta.

Emergency services were alerted at around 8.30pm on Thursday, June 24, and tried to revive the victim who was pulled unconscious from the water, but sadly he died at the scene.

A SAMU and SVB ambulance were deployed, and while medics were carrying out cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers on the deceased, two women were being rescued from the sea.

Once safely brought to shore, they were treated for anxiety and didn't need to be transferred to hospital.

A post mortem will be carried out to determine the cause of the 62-year-old's drowning.

Since mid-May, there have now been nine drownings at sea or in swimming pools in Alicante province, and the Red Cross (Cruz Roja) has issued a warning to avoid bathing when there is no lifeguard on duty.

Studies have shown that in many cases, drownings are due to medical conditions rather than carelessness.

IMAGE: Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja