Body of Missing Alabama Student James "Jimmy" Gracey Found Off Barcelona Beach, Cause of Death Under Investigation
The body of University of Alabama student James "Jimmy" Gracey was recovered Thursday evening by divers in the water off a Barcelona beach near the Shoko nightclub where he was last seen early Tuesday during a spring-break trip, and Spanish police have identified the remains as his. Catalan authorities said their investigation into the cause of death is ongoing; police had earlier recovered Gracey’s phone, and the university said it is in contact with and offering support to his family.
📌 Key Facts
- Spanish/Catalan police have identified the body recovered from the water as missing University of Alabama student James “Jimmy” Gracey.
- Gracey’s body was found Thursday evening by a team of divers in the water off a Barcelona beach, near where he was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub early Tuesday.
- Reports say Gracey disappeared after visiting a club near the beach while on a spring break trip.
- Police recovered Gracey’s phone soon after he went missing, which first alerted his family that something was wrong.
- Catalan police say their investigation into the cause of death is ongoing and have not released further conclusions.
- News reports have provided no additional details about the condition of the body, investigative leads, or cause of death beyond prior reporting.
- The University of Alabama issued a statement saying it is keeping Gracey and his family in its thoughts and is in direct communication with them to offer support.
📊 Relevant Data
Spain recorded 471 drowning deaths in 2024, an 11.6% increase from 422 in 2023, with the majority of victims being male, Spanish, and over 45 years old.
Drowning deaths increase in Spain in 2024 — Euro Weekly News
By December 3, 2025, Spain had 441 drowning deaths, one of the deadliest years on record, with over 82% of victims being men and most over the age of 45.
Spain Faces One Of Its Deadliest Years For Drownings As Fatalities Hit 441 — Alicante Today
Beaches were the site of 104 drowning deaths in Spain in the first half of 2024, contributing to a concerning rise in such incidents.
Panic in Spain with four worrying reasons so many tourists are drowning as death toll skyrockets — Daily Express
Barcelona's crime index in 2025 indicates a moderate level of overall crime at 57.27%, with violent crimes rated at 47.20%.
Is Barcelona Safe? A 2025 Safety Guide for Travelers — Radical Storage
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS reiterates that Spanish police have identified the body recovered from the water as that of missing University of Alabama student James "Jimmy" Gracey.
- The segment emphasizes that Gracey disappeared after visiting a club near the beach while on a spring break trip.
- No additional details are provided on cause of death, investigative leads, or condition of the body beyond prior reporting.
- Police say Gracey’s body was found Thursday evening in the water off a Barcelona beach by a team of divers, near where he was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub early Tuesday.
- Catalan police emphasize that their investigation into the cause of death is ongoing and have not released further conclusions.
- The University of Alabama issued a statement saying it is keeping Gracey and his family "at the forefront" of its thoughts and is in direct communication with them to offer support.
- The article reiterates that police recovered Gracey’s phone soon after he went missing, which is what first alerted his family that something was wrong.