A 20-year-old French tourist is recovering in hospital after falling into the waters of Alicante harbour in the early hours of this morning. The incident happened at around 6.15am near the Concha area of the promenade, where visibility was said to be very limited.

A neighbour alerted the emergency services after seeing the युवक in the water. Police patrols found him struggling to stay afloat while clinging to rocks along the quay wall. Officers said the height of the harbour edge and his position against the wall made it impossible for him to climb out unaided.

Police used ropes to pull him to safety. He was showing signs of exhaustion and hypothermia after prolonged immersion and repeated attempts to escape, which also left him with cuts and grazes to his arms, hands and legs.

He was taken to the General Hospital Doctor Balmis, where he remains under observation to stabilise his temperature and treat his injuries. The युवक, who studies in Pau and had travelled to Alicante to visit friends, later told officers he had drunk heavily and lost his balance near the edge of the quay.