Man arrested for failing to aid drowned Elaine
POLICE in Lanzarote have arrested a man following the drowning of Irish holidaymaker Elaine O’Donovan.
The 29-year-old was held on suspicion of failing to assist Ms O’Donovan, 41, after she went for a swim on Playa Grande after a night out.
Ms O’Donovan, from Waterford city, was spotted with a man on the beach shortly before she was pulled from the sea around 4am on Sunday.
Witnesses told police the man vanished after spotting the tourist face down in the water. The Waterford woman, who was based in London, had a pulse when paramedics arrived but died shortly afterwards.
Spanish police investigators said yesterday they had arrested a 29year-old Moroccan for failing in his duty of helping the holidaymaker after identifying him after a search.
Ms O’Donovan is understood to have met him on the night she died.
He is understood to have been released on bail pending an ongoing investigation following a private court hearing.
A source close to the inquiry said Ms O’Donovan’s life could have been saved if the suspect had called for help but ruled out any suggestion he had wanted the holidaymaker to come to any harm.
A police spokesman confirmed: ‘Around 3am on Sunday several witnesses saw a couple on the beach and spotted the woman going into the water alone and the man staying on the shore. Moments later the woman appeared floating face down near the shore and the man, when he saw this, left the scene without trying to help her or raise the alarm.’
A well-placed local source said that if he was eventually convicted of failing to help Ms O’Donovan, he could face a fine.
Ms O’Donovan, from Viewmount in Waterford city, was a civil and environmental engineer. She had been living in London for a number of years. She was one of five siblings and is understood to have travelled to meet her parents on the island.