Cause Of Death Revealed For Alabama Student Found Dead In Barcelona On Spring Break

James Gracey went missing and his body found days later.

20-year-old University of Alabama student James Gracey went to Barcelona for fun, but would not return alive. The University of Alabama student died while visiting Barcelona over spring break.

Authorities in Spain say that the 20-year-old disappeared last week after he went missing and was last seen at Shoko. That was a beachside nightclub that he had visited with friends who are studying abroad in the city.

Gracey’s body was found days later by a team of divers in the water off the beach, according to the Associated Press. Barcelona’s Catalan Police force wrote on social media that they had located a body near the nightclub and confirmed it was Gracey’s hours later.

Police told CNN last Friday that “everything points to it being an accident” and “not a criminal act.”

James Gracey Passed Away From Drowning

Split image of James Gracey and Barcelona squad carJames Gracey (Photos via X)
University of Alabama student James Gracey died by drowning after he fell into the water near a nightclub in Spain. His autopsy confirmed as much. Authorities said the body of the 20-year-old University of Alabama student was pulled from the water two days after he went missing.

Security camera footage showed him alone and walking toward the docks before he fell into the water, according to El País.

The younger brother of James paid tribute to his sibling on Instagram. In an Instagram post shared on Friday, James’ brother, Tommy Gracey, paid tribute to his “beautiful big brother,” who “always tried to put a smile on everyone’s face.”

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“I don’t know what to say or how to deal with this. I can’t believe it,” Tommy wrote. “I’m gonna miss all the texts and calls about hockey, school, and life in general. I’m not ready to say goodbye to that. All the random inside jokes, and mom would have no idea what we were talking about.”

James Gracey was a former student at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. Tommy said his brother helped him fall in love with their hockey program. He stated his older brother made him smile every time he received a text message, phone call, or notification.

As the tribute continued, Tommy said he’s not sure “how to get through this” tragedy.