Latest news with #SpanishEye
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Spain power outage 'blamed after British father drowns in front of family while on holiday'
An Irish father has died while swimming off the Costa del Sol during Monday's 'unprecedented' blackout - as witnesses were left unable to help the stricken tourist because of the power cut. Named only as Darren, the man, who is believed to be aged in his 50s, was holidaying in Torremolinos when the tragic incident unfolded in front of his son. The family is said to have taken a vacation following the death of his wife just six weeks earlier, the Spanish Eye reports. Due to the total collapse of Spain 's communications network on Monday, witnesses were unable to call emergency services and had to try and save Darren's life on the beach. They said that by the time the authorities arrived it was 'too late'. The unprecedented blackout sparked chaos across Spain and Portugal yesterday, as planes were grounded and phonelines and the internet were cut off. Dutch tourist Menno van Oorschot recalled how he pulled Darren out of the sea. It came after several British tourists who witnessed the incident sought updates on social media today. In a Facebook post Menno wrote: 'The sea was very rough, and there was a very strong current. A rescue worker was nowhere to be seen because it's not yet the high season. 'As we sipped our drink on the beach, I noticed at first glance that someone was sinking in the sea about 80 metres from us. 'Quickly and without hesitation, I threw my things to Lindsay (his wife) and reached the individual in the sea. 'Along with many others, we brought the man onto the beach and began resuscitation. 'Unfortunately, all our efforts weren't successful. And the man sadly died.' He said it suddenly dawned on him how important the internet and phones were to daily life. He added: 'They couldn't call emergency services, and when the police finally arrived, the ambulance was alerted by the phone. All of this took a long time, too long... 'What touches me most is that the man we pulled from the water with his son and grandmother was on vacation to process the loss of the boy's mother, who had sadly died six weeks before the holiday… that hits me hard. 'The feeling of helplessness still lingers with me, even though I know we all did everything we could to save this man's life.' Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said: 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. 'As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.' It comes as the first fatalities from the blackout have been reported, with four people said to have been killed as a result of domestic medical ventilator failures. A family of three were found dead in Taboadela, Ourense, La Voz de Galicia reported today as the grid managed to recover power across the nation. Civil Guard officers said they found the married couple, aged 81 and 77, and their 56-year-old son this morning. It is suspected they died from carbon monoxide poisoning during the outages, due to combustion issues with a generator installed to keep a respirator working. A 46-year-old woman was separately reported to have died on Monday in the Valencian town on Alzira after her oxygen machine lost power during the blackouts. Police in the east coast city said the woman, who was suffering from a lung infection, had stopped breathing and was unable to be resuscitated. While power was recovered today, holidaymakers continue to face disruption and further uncertainty as they battle lengthy journeys home. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday that the government had set up a commission to investigate what triggered the incident, and refused to rule out any hypothesis. 'All the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that this does not happen again,' he told a press conference. Spain's top criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, said it was investigating whether the blackout was 'an act of computer sabotage on critical infrastructure' that could be classified as 'a terrorism offence'.
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brit tourist furious at charge for two ice cubes at Spanish bar
A British holidaymaker said she was left fuming after she was charged extra for two ice cubes in her iced coffee bought at the Havana Beach Bar in Estepona, Spain A British tourist was left baffled and dismayed after being asked to pay extra for ice cubes while on holiday in Spain. Viv Proops took to social media to vent her frustration over an incident at the Havana Beach Bar in Estepona. "On Playa del Cristo beach today. Ordered an iced coffee at Havana Beach Bar and was charged for a coffee and charged extra for two ice cubes. Is that normal?", she penned. "Is ice always an extra billable item? Seems a bit petty minded in my opinion!!" Viv found herself paying an additional 50 cents for her ice cubes, on top of the €4.50 (£3.85) she had already shelled out for a coffee. Her post sparked outrage among other social media users who rallied behind her, labelling the bar as a 'rip off' and agreeing that the charge was certainly unusual, reports the Express. Have you been shocked by the price of something while on holiday in Spain? Let us know in the comments below or by emailing webtravel@ "People need to stop going to these places. Everyone is getting ripped off", one user commented. Another chimed in: "That's ridiculous. I would not go back there." "That is just pathetic, and then they wonder why people go and never go back a second time", a third user echoed. However, the bar stood its ground, justifying the extra charge by citing the costs associated with running their ice machine. "We use a professional industrial ice machine that cost us over 9,800 euros, and it consumes a significant amount of electricity daily", a spokesperson for the bar explained to English speaking newspaper Spanish Eye. "We understand it might seem minor, but in our setting where everything is brought close to the sea with comfort in mind, small extras help cover the high operational costs." This follows another recent holiday pricing scandal, where a British tourist in Benidorm was left disgruntled after being charged what they considered an outrageous sum for two sachets of HP sauce. The tourist and her family had stopped at The 4 Kings bar on Avenida Mediterraneo en route to the popular vacation destination, but were taken aback when they saw the bill. The establishment had added an extra €0.50 (£0.43) for each sachet of sauce, prompting the holidaymaker to take to social media to caution others about her experience. "Be careful going for breakfast in this place, €1 (£0.86) for two HP sachets, rip off." Her order included two 'jumbo' breakfasts, a jug of orange juice, one coffee and two sachets of brown sauce, which cost the family a total of €15.90 (£13.60). However, many other users came to the bar's defence, pointing out how affordable the two breakfasts were. One user quipped: "I think if anything this bar is now going to get more customers thanks to you."
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
British tourist is shocked to be charged extra for two ICE CUBES at Spanish bar
A British tourist was left fuming after being charged extra for two ice cubes at a Costa del Sol beach bar. Brit Viv Proops, who visited the Havana beach bar in Estepona, took to social media to rant about the extra cost. 'On Playa del Cristo beach today. Ordered an ice coffee at Havana Beach Bar and was charged for a coffee and charged extra for two ice cubes. Is that normal?', the Brit wrote. 'Is ice always an extra billable item ? Seems a bit petty minded in my opinion!!', she added. Ms Proops said she was charged 4.50 euros for a coffee, and an additional 50 cents for ice cubes. Social media users were quick to come to the tourist's defence, saying the extra charge was 'not normal' and branding the beach bar as a 'rip off'. 'That's ridiculous. I would not go back there', one user wrote. Another said: 'People need to stop going to these places. Everyone is getting ripped off'. 'That is just pathetic, and then they wonder why people go and never go back a second time', a third added. Havana Beach Bar told English speaking newspaper Spanish Eye that the reason for the extra charge was due to the costs or running an ice machine. 'We use a professional industrial ice machine that cost us over 9,800 euros, and it consumes a significant amount of electricity daily', a spokesperson for the bar said. 'We understand it might seem minor, but in our setting where everything is brought close to the sea with comfort in mind, small extras help cover the high operational costs.' Locals are becoming increasingly fed up with the rise in costs in tourist hot-spots, arguing that holidaymakers are to blame for increased prices. Earlier this month, tens of thousands of furious Spaniards took to the streets across the country to demand a solution to a housing crisis that they say has been fueled by mass tourism. The demonstrations in major Spanish towns and cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca come as the country finds itself struggling to balance the promotion of tourism and addressing citizens' concerns over increasing housing costs.
Fox News
16-04-2025
- Fox News
Wall Street banker washes up dead on paradise beach weeks after disappearing on vacation
The family of a missing New York banker who vanished while on vacation in Spain over a month ago confirmed the remains that washed ashore belong to the 37-year-old. "It is with profound sadness that I speak of the passing of my youngest son Grant," Michael Barr, Grant Barr's father, wrote in a post on his Facebook page. Grant Barr was staying with friends and relatives in Estepona on the Costa del Sol when he disappeared on Jan. 28, according to the Spanish Eye. His pants and passport were also found near a beach at a resort, shortly after he was reported missing, which prompted a massive search, the outlet reported. The outlet reported that Barr's body washed up on a beach on March 3, but his family was not notified until April 4, when the remains were identified, after they had spent weeks searching for him. Michael Barr added that the remains on the beach were confirmed as his son's through DNA. "As a father, my world will never be the same; the same may be true for all who knew and loved him. I ask God for the strength to carry on, with courage and love in my heart. And I give thanks for the prayers and kind thoughts from all who knew and loved him," Michael Barr continued. Barr had traveled to Spain for a sailing getaway after going through a difficult breakup, according to his dad, adding that his son was in an "emotional state" and might have been struggling with reality. "He loved sailing. He was a certified skydiver, and had been working on his pilot's license. He had a gigantic thirst for life," Barr's father described, sharing an image of his son on Facebook. Authorities initially ruled his cause of death as drowning, though the exact circumstances remain unclear. James Barr, Grant's brother, told the Spanish Eye that his brother's remains were released on Friday "after a week back and forth between the courts and coroner's office." "While the thoughts of a worst-case scenario came to mind from time to time, none of us actually thought this would ultimately be the outcome," James Barr said. James Barr also shared his frustration over the delay in notification, saying, "It means the last time we were all there searching for two weeks he was already found, however they didn't even suggest that there was something they were looking into." Spain's Guardia Civil and Policia Nacional have not commented on the case. Barr worked at The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation and had previously worked for Citibank, according to his LinkedIn page. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague, Grant Barr. On behalf of Grant's coworkers and the entire BNY team, we wish to express our deepest sympathies to his family and will be supporting them at this incredibly difficult time," a spokesperson for BNY shared with Fox News Digital. The U.S. Department of State also confirmed Barr's passing to Fox News Digital and said they "offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss." Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Body of Banker, 37, Washes Ashore Weeks After He Was Reported Missing While Vacationing
A New York man vacationing in Spain, who was reported missing in January after his passport and clothing were found near a beach, has died. Grant Barr, an alternative funds lending specialist from New York City, was visiting the town of Estepona on the coast of Costa del Sol, when he vanished on Jan. 28, the Spanish Eye reported. His brother, James Barr, told the outlet that the family immediately began a frantic search. Grant's remains "washed ashore" on Monday, March 3, but his brother said the family wasn't notified until early April, after Grant's body was identified through DNA testing, according to the outlet. His family said his death was reported as a drowning, but they do not yet know all of the details. 'While the thoughts of a worst-case scenario came to mind from time to time, none of us actually thought this would ultimately be the outcome,' James told the outlet. Grant's employer, BNY, confirmed his death in a statement shared with PEOPLE. 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague, Grant Barr," the BNY spokesperson said in the statement. "On behalf of Grant's coworkers and the entire BNY team, we wish to express our deepest sympathies to his family and will be supporting them at this incredibly difficult time.' The U.S. Department of State and Spanish authorities, Guardia Civil and Policia Nacional, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. Related: Lego Boss Michael Halbye Dies in Swiss Skiing Accident at 64 After Fall on the Slopes Grant was first reported missing when his pants and his passport were found near a beach in the resort town, according to the Spanish Eye. After Grant's disappearance, his brother James posted a plea on Facebook for information about his brother's whereabouts, thinking he may have left Spain for Germany, Amsterdam or Switzerland. 'My family is besides themselves,' he wrote on Thursday, February 13 after 16 days of searching. Related: Officer Who Was Weeks Short of Graduating from Police Academy Dies in Off-Duty Accident Before he learned about Grant's death, James told the Spanish Eye that he and his family would 'never give up' looking for their loved one. Following the devastating news, he shared a message from their brother Luke with the outlet. 'Our Brother passed on doing what he loved: facing the sea in its magnificent beauty and terrible might,' the brothers said in their statement. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Most Beloved Grant! we did not know that you were so many steps ahead of us!' they continued. 'We will catch up to you soon, and be with you in paradise.' Grant's remains have been cremated and brought back to the U.S, according to the outlet. "He is survived by his mother, father and two older brothers. Read the original article on People
