A spring break visit to Barcelona ended in tragedy for an Elmhurst family when James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student, was found dead Thursday evening in the water off a city beach, his family and officials said. Gracey had been reported missing after he became separated from friends outside the Shôko nightclub in the Vila Olímpica neighborhood early Tuesday morning. His family was later told that local police had recovered his phone, and search efforts along the waterfront shifted attention to the sea.
Catalan police said a team of police divers recovered a body from the water off Somorrostro beach and later identified it as Gracey, according to the Associated Press. The outlet reported that the discovery came late Thursday and that the student had been visiting friends in Barcelona for spring break. Catalan authorities said their investigation into the cause of death remains ongoing, the Associated Press noted.
Family members in Elmhurst told reporters that Gracey never returned to the room he was renting with friends and that authorities notified them after recovering his phone, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The Sun-Times reports that Gracey had flown to Spain to visit University of Alabama friends who were studying abroad. An aunt described him as a devoted son and an honors student, stressing how sharply the disappearance clashed with the responsible young man the family knew.
Spanish media added more details from the Barcelona waterfront. Authorities said a wallet linked to Gracey was found floating near the Port Olímpic and that local police recovered his phone from a man described in reports as a frequent pickpocket, according to El País. The outlet also reported that the body was located about four meters deep near Somorrostro beach and that, at the time of its reporting, investigators were not publicly treating the case as a criminal homicide.
Investigation and Next Steps
Regional Catalan police said forensic teams will carry out identification procedures and an autopsy to determine the cause of death, Cadena SER reported. According to that reporting, U.S. consular officials and the University of Alabama have been in contact with the family as authorities continue their work.
Family and University Response
Gracey's aunt told reporters the family was in shock and said, "You keep thinking that... you’re going to wake up from this," a remark included in coverage by the Associated Press. The University of Alabama said staff members were offering support to the family, and the Theta Chi fraternity reported that it had been in regular contact with chapter members in Barcelona, the Associated Press noted.
Safety Note for Students and Travelers
Barcelona's beaches and the Port Olímpic nightlife strip attract millions of visitors every year. Local reporting has long pointed out that the area is also a frequent scene for pickpocketing and late-night accidents, El País reports. The case has renewed attention on safety for spring break travelers and study abroad students from the United States, advocates and local officials told reporters.
