Man dies in fall from Spain bridge while trying to 'create content'

LONDON - A British national has died after falling off a bridge in central Spain while trying to create content for social media, according to local authorities, the German news agency (dpa) reported.

A 26-year-old man, who has not been named, tried to scale the 192-metre high Castilla-La Mancha Bridge in Talavera de la Reina, a statement from a local councillor on Sunday said.

Macarena Munoz, the city's councillor for citizen security, said the man was joined by a 24-year-old Briton, who is also unnamed, and that the pair had visited the bridge to create social media content.

In a statement, she said: "We have been able to find out, they had come to Talavera to climb the bridge and create content for social networks, which has resulted in this unfortunate and sad outcome."

She added that attempting to climb the bridge "is totally prohibited and which we have reiterated on many occasions cannot be done under any circumstances".

The man's body has been removed and taken to a funeral home by a coroner, according to a press release from the local council.

The Castilla-La Mancha bridge stands above the Tagus River, about 120 kilometres south west of Madrid, and was opened in 2011.

At the time, it was known to be the tallest cable-stayed bridge in Spain.

The structure features 152 wire ropes which are attached to the main concrete towers creating a fan-like shape.

A spokesperson from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities." - BERNAMA