A University of Alabama student, James Gracey, tragically lost his life while on a Spring Break trip in Barcelona. Witnesses claim they saw him heading towards a rocky area after he left the beachfront nightclub where he was last spotted.
Authorities discovered Gracey’s body near Port Olímpic on Thursday evening. A massive search effort involving dive teams and marine units was launched to locate the 20-year-old American student.
Gracey was last seen around 3 a.m. on Tuesday outside the Shoko nightclub. Concerns arose among his friends when he failed to return to the Airbnb he had rented, located two miles away from the club.
Emerging details about Gracey’s last moments indicate that a witness reported seeing him, known to his friends as Jimmy, walking towards a “rocky outcrop” near the beach. This information was shared with Catalan authorities, according to the Daily Mail.
“It’s possible that he might have fallen into the sea and drowned,” the witness suggested.
Gracey’s body was retrieved from the water, which was about 13 feet deep, a day after his wallet was found floating near Somorrostro beach, a short distance from Shoko.
A Port Olímpic worker raised the alarm by waving down officers before the body was found, Fox News reported.
At around 7: 05 p.m. local time, divers jumped into the water with a stretcher before tragically returning with a body bag, which appeared to be full, 10 minutes later.
A blue screen was erected to shield the body from public view.
Initially, cops feared foul play as Gracey, a junior who is set to graduate next year, was seen leaving Shoko with another person, but authorities now believe his death was “accidental.”
An autopsy will now be carried out on his body, Spanish outlet La VanGuardia reported.
The initial findings could be released within 2 to 3 days, according to the Catalan high court and reported by CNN. But, the final results may take several weeks.
Gracey’s family said they have been left heartbroken by his death – and tributes from the fraternity group he was part of have poured in.
“Jimmy was a deeply loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and friend, and our family is struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss,” they said.
Gracey, from West Elmhurst, Il, was the chaplain of the Alpha Phi Chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity – and its CEO Mike Mayer said he was “a young man of deep faith” with a “genuine care for others,” as reported by WBMA-LD.
Theta Chi Alpha Phi Chapter president Cavin McLay said “there are no words to describe the pain of losing our beloved brother, Jimmy” before paying tribute.
“He was always asking how your day was going and thinking about the people around him,” he said.
“His smile and attitude were infectious and such a light in our chapter. I can say without hesitation that I am a better person for having known him.”
McLay described Gracey as a “role model, warrior of Christ.”
