AN IRISH teenager has died after he drowned in a lake at a national park in Spain.
The 19-year-old was visiting the Natural Park of Las Lagunas de Ruidera, around 150 miles south of Madrid, when he was reported missing on Saturday.
According to local reports, the young man was last seen bathing with friends in a lagoon before emergency services were called at 10.30pm.
A search operation by Spanish Civil Guard underwater units and local firefighters was called off late on Saturday night.
The search resumed yesterday and the teen's body was discovered at around 3.30pm.
A spokesman for the Albacete Provincial Fire Service confirmed the discovery of the remains and said it had been "an undesirable ending for everyone".
Language student
It is understood that the deceased lived nearby and was on a language course run by the Spanish Department of Education at the time.
The programme brings Irish volunteers and Spanish students together every year and houses participants at the El Retiro de Don Quixote complex, in the town of Villanueva de los Infantes.
Spanish police are yet to release the victim's name or where in Ireland he was from.
A post-mortem examination took place on his body at the Perpetuo Socorro Hospital in Albacete this morning.
A spokesman for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said they "cannot comment on individual consular cases."
