Drowning at Llevant Beach

Italian Tourist

Formentera, 12 August 2026

A 61-year-old Italian man died on Tuesday, 11 August, while swimming at Llevant Beach in Formentera. The incident occurred around midday and prompted a response from the island’s lifeguard and emergency services.

The victim got into difficulties while swimming at this well-known beach in Formentera. Another swimmer in the water noticed what was happening and tried to come to his aid, although he also had difficulty making it back to shore.

Lifeguards intervened to pull the man from the sea and, once on shore, began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Despite the efforts of the emergency personnel involved, they were unable to save his life. The Consell de Formentera said drowning was the most likely cause of death, although this remained to be confirmed.

The Guardia Civil took over the investigation to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, which once again highlights the importance of having lifeguard teams at Formentera’s main beaches.

First response

The incident began when another beachgoer noticed that the 61-year-old man was in difficulty in the sea. On realising what was happening, the swimmer tried to help him.
The rescue attempt also left the second man in difficulty, as he struggled to get out of the water. At that point, an additional lifeguard, part of a supplementary service provided for businesses in the area, stepped in to help and managed to accompany them back to shore.
While this initial rescue was taking place, professional lifeguards from the Consell de Formentera service reached the victim and managed to pull him from the sea.

Resuscitation on the beach

Once the man had been brought ashore, emergency personnel immediately began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an attempt to restore his vital signs.
Resuscitation efforts continued for some time but were ultimately unsuccessful, and the Italian swimmer could not be revived. Officers from Formentera Local Police also took part in the emergency response.
An advanced life support ambulance from the 061 emergency service was also dispatched to Llevant Beach. Despite the response of the various emergency services and the resuscitation efforts carried out, the man could not be saved.

Guardia Civil investigation

Initial reports indicated that the man may have died as a result of drowning while swimming. The Consell de Formentera considered this the most likely cause of death, although it did not definitively confirm it.
The Guardia Civil therefore took charge of the investigation to determine what happened in the moments leading up to the man’s death and establish the precise cause of the incident.