Police in Spain announced Thursday that the remains of James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20‑year‑old student from Illinois, were recovered from the sea off a Barcelona shoreline.
Divers from the Catalan regional police located the body and confirmed his identity, the Barcelona police press office told the Associated Press.
The University of Alabama student was discovered close to the spot where he had been seen with friends outside a nightclub early Tuesday.
He had traveled to Barcelona to spend spring break with acquaintances.
Catalan authorities said the investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing.
Gracey was last observed outside Barcelona’s Shoko nightclub before parting from his companions around 3 a.m. on Tuesday.
He did not return to the rented apartment he shared with friends, according to relatives living in Elmhurst, a suburb about 19 miles (30 km) west of Chicago.
The family learned something was amiss when police called to report that they had retrieved his mobile phone.
Prior to the official confirmation of his death, Gracey’s aunt told the AP that he was “just a great kid, a good Catholic boy from the Midwest.”
“He was an excellent student in the honors program at the University of Alabama, served as chaplain for his fraternity, and was a strong older brother and role model for his cousins,” Beth Marren O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly added that her nephew departed Alabama on Thursday, spent the weekend in Amsterdam, and arrived in Barcelona on Monday with plans to stay the week with classmates.
Barcelona attracts a large number of international visitors each year.
The city is generally considered safe, with pickpocketing being the most common concern for tourists.
Its beaches lie within walking distance of the city centre and are popular with younger travelers.
The district where Gracey was out is a beachfront stretch that hosts several restaurants and nightclubs frequented by both locals and visitors.
“We keep Jimmy and his family in our thoughts, and our staff remain in direct contact with them to provide all possible support and assistance,” the University of Alabama said in a Thursday statement.
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