Ibiza is usually the place people go to switch off, with long afternoons by the water and the promise of little more than sun, sea and a few carefree hours. But for one British visitor in Portinatx, Tuesday afternoon became a very different experience. The incident happened at s’Arenal Gros, one of the beaches in the popular northern resort, where what began as an ordinary afternoon by the sea quickly became a serious emergency. The details of what happened are now emerging, with emergency services called to the beach and a major effort made to help the woman involved. 

People at the beach rushed to help

The woman, aged 81, was pulled from the water and lifeguards immediately began CPR. They continued with basic resuscitation for around 25 minutes before additional medical assistance arrived. A British doctor who was in the area also stepped in to help, alongside a Spanish nurse and a firefighter. Their efforts continued while emergency services made their way to the beach.

The 061 emergency service eventually took over the resuscitation attempt, with a mobile intensive care unit and a basic life-support ambulance sent to the scene. Despite the prolonged attempts to revive her, the woman unfortunately could not be saved and was pronounced dead at around 5.30pm. Policia Local from Sant Joan de Labritja also attended, while Guardia Civil officers later arrived and took charge of the proceedings. 

British woman was staying in Portinatx

The woman had been staying at the Hotel El Greco in Portinatx, according to local reports. S’Arenal Gros is the largest of the three beaches around the sheltered Portinatx bay, with s’Arenal Petit and the resort’s harbour completing the small coastal area. The beach sits in the centre of the bay and is surrounded by hotels, restaurants and other tourist facilities. 

The incident happened as the tourist season continues into late September, when Portinatx remains a popular base for visitors looking to stay in the quieter northern part of Ibiza. For those familiar with the resort, s’Arenal Gros is a particularly recognisable part of Portinatx, forming the main sandy stretch of the bay.

Exact circumstances remain unclear

Although local reports describe the incident as a drowning, the precise circumstances leading to the woman’s death have not been publicly established. An autopsy is expected to help determine the exact cause of death, as the medical examination will be able to establish whether drowning itself was the cause of death or whether another medical event may have occurred before she entered difficulty in the water. The emergency response nevertheless involved an extended attempt to resuscitate the woman, with people already at the beach and trained professionals joining forces before the 061 team continued the effort.

Her death is the latest fatal incident involving a British visitor to Ibiza this year. In July, a 64-year-old British man died after becoming unconscious following a water-slide incident at a hotel in Cala Tarida. That earlier case was also a separate incident and occurred at a hotel rather than on one of Ibiza’s beaches. The circumstances surrounding the womans death are now in the hands of the relevant authorities, while the medical examination is expected to provide further information about what happened to the 81-year-old woman.

Once more, Mazarron has taken centre stage on the international sporting stage after successfully hosting the Hydro-Fly World Championship at its marina during the end of September, drawing elite riders and large crowds over three action-packed days.

International riders take to the water in thrilling showcase of sports adrenaline

Held at the Puerto Deportivo from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, September 26, the competition united athletes from across the globe, including Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, France and Spain. The waters of Mazarron provided the perfect setting for the thrilling, high-adrenaline sport, with spectators lining the marina throughout the weekend to catch a glimpse of the gravity-defying spectacle.

Finals draw biggest crowds of the weekend

The largest crowds gathered on Sunday, when the semi-finals and finals took place, delivering a thrilling finale to the championship. Riders soared above the water using hydro-powered jet systems, showcasing skill, balance and precision in front of an enthusiastic audience of locals and visitors.

Champions crowned across multiple categories

In the Pro men’s category, Jeff Gazzola, from France, was crowned world champion, pulling off an impressive performance against strong international competition. In second place was Robert Yaszczold, and in third place was Rodrigo Delgado, both of whom also featured among the top competitors in other categories.

Elsewhere, Viktor Kanevski claimed victory in the junior category, followed by Pepelu Leceta and Víctor García, while Sergei Filippov led the veterans’ podium ahead of Yaszczold and Delgado. In the women’s competition, Mirella Kalashnikova secured the gold, with Martyna Irene Szczygiel placing second and Elena Vera placing third.

Boosting Mazarron as an ultimate sports tourism destination

The event formed part of a wider programme that promotes Mazarron as a year-round destination for sports tourism. Exhibitions, shows and activities ran alongside the championship, helping to attract visitors outside the peak summer season. With strong international participation and a lively atmosphere throughout, the Hydro-Fly World Championship has further cemented Mazarron’s reputation as a host for major sporting events, and has shown that the town’s locals and visitors live and breathe thrilling competitions.

A woman renting an apartment in Palma went to the police to report that the woman who was sub-renting her spare room owed her €400, and in doing so mistakingly told her own landlords what she’d been doing without their permission. A Palma court has now backed them, which raises a question plenty of renters in Spain will be asking.

A routine police complaint gave her landlords the proof 

A tenant in Palma reported the woman she’d let a room to after she failed to pay her last month’s rent of €400, but that complaint to the National Police is how the flat’s owners found out someone else was living there.

The owners rented her the flat for €720 a month, and the contract expressly banned subletting. They went to court and the lease was ended, with the Provincial Court now upholding that decision and confirming she has to leave.

Her own police statement formed part of the evidence, alongside a Facebook advert offering the room and messages in which the owners made clear they hadn’t agreed to a sublet or to anyone else coming into the home.

Her argument that it was unfair didn’t work

The tenant argued that ending her lease was unfair and out of proportion, asking what would happen if a partner moved in with her, or a relative stayed for a while. The court wasn’t convinced, saying that if it accepted that reasoning, anyone could point to a situation like that to disguise a sublet and get round the ban in both the contract and the law.

It added that it makes no difference whether the other person is there for free or pays rent, though here it accepted that payment had been made.

What Spain’s rental law says about letting a room

Under Spain’s rental law, tenants can only sublet part of their home, never the whole thing, and only with the landlord’s written permission given beforehand. The rent charged for the sublet also can’t be more than the tenant pays under their own lease. If a tenant sublets without that permission, the landlord can ask for the contract to be terminated, which is exactly what happened here. So this isn’t a new restriction, just an existing rule being enforced.

It doesn’t mean having a partner, relative or friend to stay is grounds for eviction either. This case involved a paying room-renter in a flat where the contract banned it, and nothing reported suggests overnight guests were the issue. However, if someone is moving in rather than visiting, it’s worth checking what your contract says first.

What to do before letting out a spare room

So if you’re thinking of renting a room to help cover your rent, ask your landlord for consent in writing first, rather than working on the assumption that ‘I’m paying the rent, so it’s my call who lives here’. Keep a copy of the reply, and if the answer is no, don’t go ahead with it.