A man's body has been discovered in a popular holiday hotspot nearly a month after his death, following complaints from neighbours about a foul smell. The 79-year-old German national was found in a beachfront property in Puerto Andratx, Majorca, on Wednesday after firefighters used a ladder to reach his balcony and broke through the glass door.
Discovery After Neighbour Complaints
Neighbours had reported a strong odour emanating from the flat, while the landlord raised the alarm after the man stopped responding to calls and failed to answer the door. Crowds of tourists and local residents gathered to watch emergency services gain access to the locked flat. Firefighters quickly confirmed the presence of a body upon entering.
The man, who had lived in the area for several years, is believed to have died of natural causes. His landlord told local media that he lived alone and always paid his bills on time, making the sudden loss of contact unusual.
Similar Incidents in Spain
This is not an isolated case. In April 2026, a British expat couple was found in a rural property in Cala Mesquida, Majorca, after they failed to show up for a scheduled boat trip. The man was deceased and his wife was in critical condition, with carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty appliance suspected.
Many elderly or solo retirees from abroad in the region live in tourist hubs with limited local family networks, meaning it can take days or weeks for a discovery to be made. In February last year, two vulnerable British pensioners were found dead in San Fulgencio, a town south of Alicante with a high concentration of UK expats. The alarm was raised when they repeatedly failed to answer calls, and a passerby spotted a body through a window. Civil Guard officers found both deceased, with local social services having classified the couple as vulnerable due to severe chronic illnesses. Post-mortem results found no signs of violence.
In the same month, a 90-year-old British pensioner reportedly starved to death in her home after her 63-year-old son, who was caring for her, died from natural causes. Police broke through the front door and found both bodies.
