Scot drowns in Costa del Sol just hours into trip

A SCOTS tourist has died in an apparent drowning just hours into a sunshine break with friends.
Marbella, Spain. A Scot has died just hours into a holiday in the Costa del Sol. Picture: Wikimedia/CCMarbella, Spain. A Scot has died just hours into a holiday in the Costa del Sol. Picture: Wikimedia/CC
Marbella, Spain. A Scot has died just hours into a holiday in the Costa del Sol. Picture: Wikimedia/CC

Brian Nicol, 32, failed to surface after diving into the swimming pool at the luxury Costa del Sol holiday villa where he was staying.

The group had enjoyed their first night out in Marbella after flying to Spain earlier in the day, before returning to their rented villa.

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Friends dragged Glasgow-born Mr Nicol out of the water and tried to revive him. Local police took over after reaching the scene shortly before paramedics, but could do nothing to save him.

Emergency services were called to the property, in the exclusive residential neighbourhood of Nueva Andalucia just after 8:30am on Sunday.

A post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday morning at Malaga’s Forensic Medicine Institute.

A police spokesman said: “The incident is still being investigated but all the evidence at this stage is pointing towards the death being the result of a tragic accident.”

Mr Nicol is understood to have flown to Spain hours before the tragedy with a group of around a dozen friends.

Sources close to the investigation said they had been told the group had gone out for the evening before returning to the villa to carry on partying around the pool.

One said: “Our understanding is the victim had dived into the pool and swum underwater two or three times during the night without any problem, but failed to surface the last time he jumped in.

“Although he appears to have drowned, it’s too early at this stage to say why it happened.”

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Forensic experts are expected to examine whether Mr Nicol suffered a blow to the head or digestion problems which caused stomach cramps and may have led to him drowning.

An investigating judge has been put in charge of a routine judicial inquiry into the incident.

Nueva Andalucia, the area where the tragedy happened, is a favourite for British holidaymakers. It is a short drive from Puerto Banus, south-west of Marbella, and boasts several high-quality golf courses.

Former PR guru Max Clifford owns a luxury apartment near one of the courses, where Sean Connery was once a regular. Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan also owns a holiday home in the residential area between the Mediterranean and Marbella’s famous La Concha mountain.

No-one at the mansion where the incident happened was willing to speak yesterday. A man in shorts and a T-shirt came out of the Arabic-style villa and said: “There’s nothing I want to say at the moment.”

It emerged that the group of holidaymakers had flown to Spain for a break and that the group included several relatives. A police source said: “They had come across for a birthday. There were a number of relatives.”

A neighbour said: “The house is usually empty but we noticed people on the tennis courts so assumed it was being rented.

“We usually hear when people are having parties but I don’t recall hearing much noise until the police cars and ambulances started arriving.

“They left around 1pm yesterday/on Sunday.”

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A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are providing consular assistance to the family at this sad time.”

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