A 62-year-old man was found dead in the sea off the coast of Tenerife on Saturday morning after apparently becoming separated from a group of swimmers during a coastal crossing.

The incident occurred near Playa de Las Gaviotas in Santa Cruz, where local residents discovered the man's body floating in the water and brought him ashore before alerting emergency services.

According to reports from the emergency services, the man was part of a group undertaking a short swim between Playa de Las Teresitas and Playa Chica. They suggest he had remained behind during the crossing to rest and was making his way towards the shoreline when the incident occurred.

However, the circumstances surrounding what happened next remain unclear.

Following the alert, officers from the Local Police de Santa Cruz, the National Police, and SUC medical personnel attended the scene, where emergency crews worked alongside police officers to gather information and begin the process of establishing exactly what happened.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the death and are currently examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

At this stage, no further details have been released regarding the cause of death, and officials have not indicated whether any medical condition or other factors may have played a role.

Residents and visitors are reminded to take extra care when swimming in open water around the Canary Islands, particularly when undertaking longer coastal crossings, where sea conditions and physical exertion can present additional risks.