A body clad in a wetsuit and an inflatable rubber ring was retrieved from the sea near the Costa del Sol, marking the fourth such discovery in the region within a month.

The body was located approximately 14 kilometers southeast of Estepona on Tuesday evening after a pleasure boat spotted it. The crew promptly notified the maritime rescue coordination center in Tarifa, which dispatched a rescue helicopter and vessel.

The helicopter confirmed the sighting, and the boat subsequently recovered the body, transporting it back to Estepona’s port. The Guardia Civil has now taken over the investigation into the circumstances of the individual’s demise.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the deceased is a man and appears to have been in the water for an extended period, as indicated by the state of decomposition.

This incident follows closely on the heels of another body found off Fuengirola on September 26, which also showed signs of significant decomposition and missing body parts. Additionally, two more bodies were discovered within a day in mid-September, with one found off the western Costa del Sol and another near Nerja. Both individuals were reportedly wearing wetsuits, with one near Nerja also equipped with flippers and an inflatable ring, as well as several mobile phones and Moroccan currency.

Authorities have stated that the two men found in September were unidentified migrants but clarified that there is no evidence linking them to the recent surge of migrants arriving in Ceuta in late July. The latest discovery raises the total number of bodies recovered in Malaga province to four within a month, with investigations ongoing to determine the identity of the most recent victim.