The body of a 32-year-old British tourist, Alexander Johnson, who went missing on Tuesday after being caught in a flash flood in the Torrent de Pareis, Escorca, has been found three kilometres from where his girlfriend’s body was discovered the day before.
The Guardia Civil’s helicopter spotted the man’s body floating in a pool approximately 800 metres from the mouth of the torrent. Divers and rescue specialists were dispatched to recover the body, and emergency services are now awaiting the arrival of the forensic doctor to transport it to the Institute of Legal Medicine.
Torrential rains complicate rescue efforts
According to rescue operation sources, Johnson’s body surfaced after the water levels in the torrent receded. The area had been hit by severe rainstorms on Tuesday, leading to powerful, muddy torrents that made search efforts extremely challenging. In addition to the Guardia Civil, the Bombers de Mallorca also participated in the rescue efforts.
The British couple were on holiday in Mallorca and had been hiking with a group of family and friends when they were caught in the flash flood. The sudden deluge caused the torrent to swell dramatically, and both Johnson and his girlfriend, Sarah Jane Thompson, 26, were swept away by the current. Their companions immediately raised the alarm, triggering a large-scale search by emergency services.
Woman’s body found near last known location
On Wednesday, rescue teams located Thompson’s body in the s’Entreforc area, close to where she was last seen. Despite the rescue team’s efforts, Johnson remained missing until his body was discovered on Friday morning. The flash flood had carried him over three kilometres downstream.