Brit tourist, 76, drowns after being dragged out to sea while swimming off Costa Rica beach

A BRITISH pensioner has tragically drowned in Costa Rica.

Witnesses said that the woman, 76, had been swimming at Montezuma beach, Puntarenas, when she was dragged out to sea by a powerful wave.

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An elderly British woman has died whilst swimming in Costa Rica[/caption]

Emergency services were alerted and a search and rescue mission was carried out immediately.

The authorities thoroughly searched both the shore and sea but after half an hour they still could not find the British woman.

Fishermen who had responded to the emergency alert eventually discovered her body and transported her back to shore.

Paramedics could not revive her and she was pronounced dead shortly after.

Julio Benavides, a responding paramedic, told local media: “We received a report of a water accident, specifically in Montezuma.

“Upon arrival, we attended to a woman around 75 years old lying on the beach.

“Upon assessment, she exhibited no vital signs, and, unfortunately, we had to declare her deceased due to submersion.”