Bathers received an unpleasant surprise on the beach of Arenales del Sol near Gran Alacant, Alicante, on Sunday, when a body was washed up on shore.
The body was seen floating a few metres from the sand and so rescuers attended to enact a recovery.
The degree of decomposition of the body suggests that it had been in the water for several days, with no other obvious signs of injury or cause of death.
In autopsy is being carried out to determine the facts and identify the victim.