The Spanish sun is losing its glow. A British paraglider is dead. Another holiday turned tragedy.
It happened near Alicante. The victim, a man in his 30s from the UK. He was flying off a coastal cliff when the wind turned. Equipment failure. A bad gust. The details are still murky. But the outcome is clear: another family is shattered.
The numbers are climbing. This is the third British tourist death in Spain this week. Two others died in separate incidents: a drowning off the Costa del Sol, a car crash in Majorca. The Foreign Office is involved. They are offering 'consular support'. A phrase that means little to those who have lost someone.
The paragliding spot is a known hotspot. It attracts thrill-seekers. But this stretch of coastline has seen more than its share of accidents. Local authorities are calling for tighter regulations. But the Spanish tourism board is keen to downplay any 'safety concerns'.
Whitehall sources tell me the British ambassador has been in touch with Madrid. But this is a local law enforcement matter. The Spanish Civil Guard will handle the investigation. They will look into whether the equipment was faulty, whether the operator had a license, whether the weather conditions were ignored.
One thing is certain. The insurance companies will be circling. They hate these claims. And the policy fine print often has exclusions for extreme sports.
For the family, none of that matters. They are left with a long flight home to an empty seat. The Foreign Office will send a letter. The local MP will offer condolences. The media will move on by the weekend.
But the question remains. Why do these accidents keep happening? Is it a lack of regulation? A culture of risk? Or just bad luck? The statistics say the latter. But for three families this week, statistics are cold comfort.
I will be watching the coroner's report. That is where the real story often lies.
Eleanor Rigby, Political Bureau Chief
