A Cork man has drowned in a freak swimming accident in Spain, The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.

Timothy Kelleher, mid to late 30s, drowned on Thursday evening at a resort in Northern Spain.

The Cork man, from around the Ballyvourney area, had just begun the famous Camino trek to the Santiago de Compostela when the incident occurred.

It is understood that he went for a swim after walking all day but got into difficulty in the water and was found unresponsive a short time later.

Efforts were made to resuscitate him at the scene but he was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later.

A post mortem examination is to be carried out in the coming days.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to The Echo that it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

Mr Kelleher’s parents live locally in the Ballyvourney area where his father operates a construction business.

Mr Kelleher has one brother and was working with his father in the business.

It is the latest tragedy to impact Cork holidaymakers overseas this summer.

In August, two Cork children died in separate drowning incidents while on family holidays in Germany and Spain.