See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT and GLYN BELLIS Published: 16:29 BST, 26 May 2026 | Updated: 17:12 BST, 26 May 2026
A murder probe has been launched following the death of a 34-year-old man at a popular Welsh seaside resort on bank holiday Monday.Emergency services responded to reports of a man in the water at busy Barmouth, Gwynedd, shortly after 3pm.North Wales Police said: 'Despite the best efforts of those who attended, the man was sadly later pronounced dead.'A 24-year-old man from the Birmingham area was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody while inquiries are ongoing.The dead man's family and coroner have been made aware.Visitor Christina Lawless posted on Facebook: ‘Seen him getting dragged out and people trying to resuscitate him. Was horrible to see, so sad.’Another shocked holidaymaker described seeing beach-goers desperately attempting CPR while they waited for emergency services to arrive, adding: ‘Thoughts with his family.’Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Chris Bell said: 'An investigation into the man's death has been launched and I am urging anybody who was at Barmouth beach and witnessed the incident to contact police. File picture of Barmouth beach in Snowdonia where a man died in the sea on Monday, prompting police to launch a murder investigation'I am also appealing to everybody who was on the beach between 2pm and 4pm who took any photos and videos to send them to us as soon as possible.'We are interested in all photos or videos taken on any part of the beach during the afternoon. 'Any image could be relevant to our investigation, and my team of investigators will review them to ascertain whether they are of any evidential value to our inquiries.'Your help on this matter could be crucial in piecing together the sequence of events leading up to the death of the man.'I would reassure the community that we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident and there will be an increased police presence in the coming days for reassurance purposes.'My thoughts remain with the man's family at this difficult time.' With a vast stretch of sand, the Snowdonia seaside resort is a popular attraction, particularly on sunny bank holidays when it attracts visitors from as far afield as the West Midlands.The promenade offers traditional family entertainments such as donkey rides and amusement arcades.At low tide it is possible to walk across the bay to Harlech in the north, with breath-taking views of Cardigan Bay.But it has suffered drowning tragedies in recent years, including in May 2024 when 20-year-old Mohamad Alkadour – whose family had fled Syria to start a new life in Wales – was dragged out to sea.In August 2021 father-of-seven Jonathan Stevens, 36, from Telford, Shropshire, drowned while bravely trying to save two of his children who had got into difficulty on paddleboards.And in August 2016 schoolboys Yahye Omar Mohamed, 14, and Waseem Muflahi, 15, drowned while swimming in the sea during a trip to Barmouth from their homes in Birmingham.
