ListNook

DireBaboon Mar 20, 2026 +269

I'm not sure people realize that this happens very often

269

kidwizbang Mar 20, 2026 +70

I have a friend who works in the study abroad program for a major university, and drowning is by far the most common way for students abroad to die. I saw this headline and before I clicked thought, "bet he drowned."

70

DireBaboon Mar 20, 2026 +40

Yeah unfortunately young men get over-intoxicated and drown routinely, regardless of the country they are in

40

patwm11 Mar 20, 2026 +62

Was thinking the same, why is this national news?

62

Tyranicross Mar 20, 2026 +108

Because Spain refuses to aid the US in the middle east so theyre trying to make Spain seem anti-american

108

patwm11 Mar 20, 2026 +24

Epic Fox News moment

24

Tyranicross Mar 20, 2026 +10

The us will no longer teach Spanish in school, they've renamed it to freedomese

10

UnPrecidential Mar 20, 2026 +5

I'll have a chimachanga and a side Freedom Rice . . .

5

MiserableKink Mar 21, 2026 +1

It's low key almost respect for the commitment to the bit

1

ttownfeen Mar 20, 2026 +7

Conventionally attractive white college student dies aboard. It gets views

7

ImjustANewSneaker Mar 21, 2026 +1

Because he was missing prior….

1

dbbk Mar 21, 2026 +5

It’s been very weird seeing all the responses to this story like “something doesn’t add up!! What are they hiding??? He was murdered!!!” like no he was blackout drunk and went into the sea it’s not that complicated

5

KristySueWho Mar 21, 2026 +4

When a college kid goes missing or is found dead in a body of water in the US, people who believe in the Smiley Face Killer come out in droves. They simply cannot believe intoxicated college kids do dumb things that can get them killed.

4

RepFilms Mar 21, 2026 +1

I can't understand how this became news. There's lots of other things going on. It was in the New York Times!?

1

Tyrrox Mar 20, 2026 +349

Unfortunately intoxicated people falling into or swimming in water is a recipe for drowning. People have died just taking a bath when too drunk. Edit: phrasing To add, he was from the Midwest. People who have not grown up around oceans often vastly underestimate the danger present. One rogue wave or a riptide if you don't know how to deal with them can easily be fatal. There's plenty of videos and news articles about people simply walking close to the water and then getting hit with a larger wave that knocks them down and pulls them out to sea.

349

thedankonion1 Mar 20, 2026 +126

There was a half-baked "conspiracy theory" in Manchester that a mysterious person was pushing People in Manchester into canals, causing them to drown. Turns out basically all of these incidents occured near bars alongside the canals, and most on Saturday night. There were so many drunk people falling in that people thought a serial killer was on the loose.

126

Captain_Mazhar Mar 20, 2026 +64

We've got that here in Austin as well, with idiots pedaling the "Rainey Street Ripper" theory, while failing to recognize that there is an enormous bar district right next to a river and they wonder why people are drowning.

64

Jillredhanded Mar 20, 2026 +7

We have a Royal Military College just across a causeway from our downtown center. Lose a cadet or two into the water every year or so.

7

O_PLUTO_O Mar 20, 2026 -25

Ok this one is different and Austin genuinely has a serial killer drowning people in lady bird lake. 200+ bodies have been found in the last two years and the police closed the investigation to all of them saying “oh yea they all fell in and drowned”

-25

WorstDogEver Mar 20, 2026 +17

Seems like it was 200 dead in *20+* years? That's less than one a month https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2025-09-04/austin-tx-serial-killer-rainey-street-ripper-rumors-debunked

17

BroJackson_ Mar 20, 2026 +19

200+ in two years?? 😂 😂 No the f*** they haven’t. There isn’t a serial killer, bro.

19

Tyrrox Mar 20, 2026 +12

Except they were able to identify in almost every case the textbook signs consistent with accidental drowning. Both academic researchers and police have reached the conclusion there is no serial killer. Additionally, the demographics of those drowned are very similar to overall accidental drowning demographics, meaning that there does not appear to be a singular intelligence picking targets.

12

crapshooter_on_swct Mar 20, 2026 +28

Same thing here in Wisconsin except it was same scenario with the Mississippi River and the rumored “smiley face killer”. All young, intoxicated and never made it home.

28

ezirb7 Mar 20, 2026 +3

I thought those theory's were about drowings in Eau Claire. Maybe it was La Crosse on the Mississippi. I'm sure just about any college on a river has some history of drunk drownings.

3

Cool_Jelly_9402 Mar 20, 2026 +3

They were in La Crosse too. While I was a student (late 90s early 2000s) there were 2-3 guys that died in the river and one fell off the bluff. All were jokingly referred to as the smiley face killer but at least when I was there, no one I knew believed there was a serial killer. The bars are very close to the Mississippi, not too dissimilar to Eau Claire’s downtown (that’s the area I grew up in too lol)

3

crapshooter_on_swct Mar 20, 2026 -4

I lived LaCrosse basically 98-08. I remember telling my Mom if I was found dead in the river, I didn’t go in voluntarily. I spent a lot of time downtown and never once was wandered around the river alone after bar-time.

-4

Cool_Jelly_9402 Mar 20, 2026 +6

So you believed the serial killer angle? No shade I just don’t remember anyone really taking it seriously but maybe that was my group. I’m also a female so maybe it felt different for the young athletic guys that were in the targeted age group I agree that we never wandered down by the river for fun but I will say my La Crosse years were some of my drunkest years on record and I know I wasn’t alone on that one lol. Drunks aren’t the best at making wise decisions ;) Regardless I’m glad the river didn’t get you, regardless of cause

6

Cyclonitron Mar 20, 2026 +6

>my La Crosse years >my drunkest years Checks out.

6

crapshooter_on_swct Mar 20, 2026 +3

I can agree to that statement! Some bar had 10 cent tap Tuesdays. I think it was Gargoyles. Then Coconut Joes/Sneaker on Wed for the $5 cover and everything was 0.25 a drink. And the Library on Thursdays for 0.25 taps! Fun fact - met the guy that played Corky Thatcher from Life Goes On at the The Library

3

crapshooter_on_swct Mar 20, 2026 +1

My mother took it seriously so I just assured that I don’t go near the river.

1

Cool_Jelly_9402 Mar 20, 2026 +2

Ha. Valid

2

destroys_burritos Mar 20, 2026 +8

Same here in Chicago

8

Trinityliger Mar 21, 2026 +1

Finding that the River North killer is actually alcohol and proximity to water

1

GrimaceThundercock Mar 20, 2026 +4

Same thing happening in Austin right now. It's wild.

4

spaghettittehgaps Mar 20, 2026 +3

Install some guardrails along the sides of the river and watch the "killings" go away instantly

3

UnitSmall2200 Mar 21, 2026 +2

That's what a mysterious person who likes to push drunk people who come out of bars into nearby canals would say

2

Obvious-Escape-2809 Mar 21, 2026 +1

Boston as well.

1

ECUTrent Mar 21, 2026

Damn. Drink like a fish, don't BECOME the fish. Amirite, George? George?

0

viola-purple Mar 20, 2026 +17

An acquaintance dived into the sea at night and hit his head on a rock - dead. It was too dark to see

17

WhoDoYouKnowHereMan Mar 20, 2026 +39

I mean he grew up in the Chicago suburbs, so if he visited the city, Lake Michigan has several 20-something’s drunkenly fall into the lake each summer

39

Tyrrox Mar 20, 2026 +23

Similar problem to people who aren't used to oceans. Lake Michigan is basically a fresh water sea. Not that the kind of water changes anything. People have died falling out of fishing boats in lakes as well. The ocean piece was just to give context that he could have thought he was perfectly safe without realizing the specific dangers an ocean can present.

23

Cakiea Mar 20, 2026 -16

Falling in to a very large lake is *very* different from sneaker waves coming up 10+ ft past the tide line, knocking you down, and pulling you out to sea or wading up to your calves and being knocked down and pulled out by the rip tide, the ocean is immensely powerful and vastly underestimated.

-16

WhoDoYouKnowHereMan Mar 20, 2026 +16

You’ve obviously never been to a Chicago beach because maybe it can’t get AS extreme as an ocean, but the beaches do close due to riptides and wave severity frequently. This is exactly why people drown in the lake because they underestimate it

16

Cakiea Mar 20, 2026 -10

I’m aware there are tides and currents but you literally said “fall into lake” you clearly haven’t been to the PNW ocean, where you don’t have to be in the ocean or anywhere near it to get pulled out by a sneaker wave. There’s a reason the coast guard trains here, it’s the most volatile conditions in the US.

-10

WhoDoYouKnowHereMan Mar 20, 2026 +6

If you get hit by a wave or pulled by a riptide while drunk, you fall down.. weird you focus on that. I never discounted the ocean, I’ve been in the pacific numerous times. I’m just saying this shit does happen in Lake Michigan in Chicago. As u/Tyrrox mentioned, it’s basically a freshwater sea. It’s not like it’s a tiny normal lake.

6

sardonic_balls Mar 21, 2026 +3

Add to that the culture of drinking that permeates the Midwest. 10 beers a night would probably be considered 'rookie numbers' in Wisconsin

3

harroldinho Mar 20, 2026 +5

This is a major issue in Brooklyn where the industrial area with lots of nightclubs by water have so many incidents to the point where they thought there was a serial killer. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/02/us/brooklyn-deaths-avant-gardner-newtown-creek.html

5

onajourney314 Mar 20, 2026 +2

Yup. This happened to a student at the U of MN a couple of years ago… in winter

2

Dear_Ambellina03 Mar 21, 2026 +2

As a midwesterner that eventually had a brief stint as a white water guide in the west - most people who grow up around lakes and ponds have no idea what water can do. You try an explain that water can kill them and they don't believe you.

2

Malforus Mar 20, 2026 -10

I feel like the "Smiley Face Killer" pattern killer is just a bunch of mediocre white guys who got drunk and either accidentally or intentionally went swimming and drowned.

-10

ATribeCalledPrest Mar 20, 2026 +18

>mediocre Seems like a strange judgement to make of a bunch of dead people.

18

spiritualskywalker Mar 20, 2026 +4

Thanks for pointing that out. How do we know that they were mediocre? Because they’re dead?

4

Tyrrox Mar 20, 2026 +5

Also I was trying to figure out why they also specified race. It almost seems like they are trying to link those those two adjectives as being related.

5

spiritualskywalker Mar 20, 2026 +2

Good point.

2

Malforus Mar 20, 2026 -6

The smiley face killer was an urban legend who sought out white men in college towns who were middle of the road. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiley\_face\_murder\_theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smiley_face_murder_theory) Its a conspiracy theory born of out trying to make sense of people who were found dead after a night out and didn't seem to have any other connection.

-6

Tyrrox Mar 20, 2026 +3

They weren't asking for info. They were commenting on your poor choice of words.

3

youngcadadia22 Mar 20, 2026 +52

I studied abroad in Spain and went to Barcelona one weekend. Went out to Opium, which is right next to Shoko. I got super drunk, went out to the beach, and went swimming. Definitely can see an accidental drowning happening, super sad.

52

Lonely_Noyaaa Mar 20, 2026 +58

>Spanish police concluded a US college student's death in Barcelona was likely accidental after investigating claims of foul play raised by the family. Tragic regardless of cause, the family deserves closure and a thorough investigation. Barcelona is generally safe but accidents happen, especially in unfamiliar cities with alcohol involved.

58

lt__ Mar 20, 2026 +13

In my experience, Barcelona's center can be somewhat sketchy at night, Barceloneta beach, which was nearby that nightclub, is not the safest place too. However currently is the season when things are more chill there.

13

viola-purple Mar 20, 2026 +26

Yet swimming at night is dangerous... you can't see. Then alcohol. Sounds pretty much like an accident

26

mickyninaj Mar 20, 2026 +9

Young tourists and especially those who do study abroad in Barcelona or Madrid do the dumbest shit while traveling honestly. Always the worst folks in hostels or bars.

9

viola-purple Mar 21, 2026 +2

I know, studied in three countries, major cities - it takes a while to get known to the specific environment. Gladly I was never much into alcohol and used to moving countries so I was aware to be cautious first. The boyfriend of a friend has been at a beach party in Portugal quite a while ago - he wanted to dive headfirst into the sea - and there was a rock. Dead immediately and this guy had been travelling for years and was and adult over 30, yet. Such tragedies

2

edu5150 Mar 20, 2026 +3

Sketchy, smetchy….people don’t get killed there.

3

lazykcdoodler Mar 21, 2026 +1

Barcelona's a beautiful city with many cool sights, but I'll admit its a rather unlucky location for me. When I was 2 years old and visiting for the first time, I bumped my mouth onto a hotel room table hard enough to start bleeding. Second time as a college student with my parents and siblings, thieves stole my dad's bag that happened to have all our passports in it (a couple of days later I lost my favorite necklace as we were packing up to go to the embassy in Madrid). There are things I still wish to see in Barcelona that I haven't yet, but I'm a bit worried about might happen the 3rd time lol

1

YeOldeOrc Mar 20, 2026 +24

I’ll be honest… When I studied abroad, the behavior of my fellow students absolutely shocked me. I was not prepared for the extreme drug, alcohol, and hookup culture going on. I thought because we were in college, it would be calmer (yeah, I’m dumb). One girl even became a, uh…”lady of the night” for the four months and made a lot of cash. I was genuinely surprised no one died. I wonder if parents understand exactly how *hard* some of their kids go when they get that first real hit of freedom. Not that it takes much if you’re around a body of water to put you in serious danger, especially if no one is watching out for you. So damn sad.

24

odelay42 Mar 21, 2026 +3

I also saw a lot studying abroad in Spain. Two of my classmates were hammered and one gave the other a piggyback ride into the dorm, but they both fell backward through a plate glass wall. Lotta blood.

3

Dwayla Mar 20, 2026 +46

Ugh, why do friends leave friends alone at bars drunk..

46

buckeyevol28 Mar 20, 2026 +49

Because they’re also drunk?

49

Spiritual_Pangolin18 Mar 21, 2026 +5

They were probably as drunk as he was, and guess what? People don't live in the same neighborhood.

5

YeOldeOrc Mar 20, 2026 +7

Because true friends are rarer than young folks think.

7

rrrrrivers Mar 20, 2026 +10

That was my thought. Anytime I've been out with friends we all stick together. Or at least one of my buddies will set up a tracker for all of us so we know where we are. I appreciate him all the more now for doing that. Thanks, Kyle. You're a great friend.

10

usedTP Mar 20, 2026 +10

Similar thing happened in Nashville last year. Intoxicated, out by himself, and they didn't fingers him for two weeks.

10

Dangerous_Golf_7417 Mar 20, 2026 +20

Well, at least he got fingered eventually.

20

ConspiracyBarbie Mar 20, 2026 +28

There’s a huge pattern of drunk men ending up dead in water.

28

kace91 Mar 20, 2026 +44

There's a running joke in Spain that summer doesn't start until a British tourist jumps from a hotel window and misses the pool. No conspiracy, it's just that drunk people can get really foolish, and Spain gets tons of drunks tourists regularly.

44

ConspiracyBarbie Mar 20, 2026 -2

I didn’t imply it was a conspiracy. I think you just read my username.

-2

dumbasstupidbaby Mar 20, 2026 +4

He's from my area. Was pretty big news around here. Damn sad.

4

Ackerack Mar 20, 2026 +8

Frat bro got drunk off his ass, went in the ocean, and drowned. That sucks, but this doesn’t seem like anything of note to me? I’m sure this or something similar happens all the time, not sure why this case is getting so much attention tbh

8

ellsego Mar 20, 2026 +5

I live in Houston and people swear up and down there’s a serial killer here… because drunken idiots. Keep drowning in the Bayous… they pulled 34 bodies out of the Bayous last year… but yeah, unfortunately, this happen often .

5

repingel Mar 20, 2026 +4

People are also convinced there's a serial killer along the Mississippi killing college aged guys. 🙄

4

ellsego Mar 21, 2026 +1

Funny, I went to college along the Mississippi River and I remember when I was in school a couple students disappearing while hammered after leaving a bar and the last place they were seen was by the river… you fall into that in the winter, shit is immediately over for you.

1

tearsandpain84 Mar 20, 2026 +3

A bit disrespectful to the young man.

3

ttownfeen Mar 20, 2026 -7

Conventionally attractive white college student dies aboard. It gets views.

-7

kubrador Mar 20, 2026 +1

my guy walked into a ceiling fan and made international headlines

1

lucylynn789 Mar 20, 2026 +1

In the last few years been hearing a lot about this same thing . College student Riley S drowned in Nashville . Rip

1

DFParker78 Mar 21, 2026 +1

It’s only a news story because he was missing and in a foreign country - they wanted it to be foul play and have a mystery to run with.

1

Junkstar Mar 20, 2026 -26

After what the shit talking U.S. President said about Spain last week, good on them to still do the right thing here.

-26

SingleSpeed27 Mar 20, 2026 +27

Are you so desensitized that an obvious thing like investigating a missing kid surprises you? It’s not about politics.

27

Junkstar Mar 20, 2026 -12

According to him they are “very bad.” There’s a travel warning issued by the US. He is threatening to cut off trade, installations, and “economic dealings.” This, because they won’t help with the Trump war. That’s political. But Spain is better than that and did the right thing. These things are all connected imo.

-12

Tyrrox Mar 20, 2026 +6

You need to touch grass. This has nothing to do with Trump.

6

ValuableAstronomer75 Mar 20, 2026 +7

This case and Trump have literally no connection - except in your mind.

7

mykl5 Mar 20, 2026 +12

Whats the right thing they’re doing here?

12

Junkstar Mar 20, 2026 -15

Not holding a grudge over the people of a broken country. He threatened their nation just last week.

-15

mykl5 Mar 20, 2026 +6

so they didn’t see the guy was American and just be like ‘oh in that case, let’s just leave him floating there and not report on it.

6

katril63 Mar 20, 2026 +17

This literally has nothing to do with Trump. Police investigate deaths regardless of the person's nationality

17

UnfairRavenclaw Mar 20, 2026 +3

Don‘t let the Catalonians hear this.

3

PigFarmer1 Mar 21, 2026

Alcohol and drowning are an iconic duo.

0

HSeldonCrisis Mar 20, 2026 -6

Nothing good happens after midnight.

-6

SPzero65 Mar 20, 2026 -23

Oh God, is Barcelona going to need some freedom now as well??

-23

rob1nthehood Mar 20, 2026 +9

Only if Israel says so.

9

genericusernamepls Mar 20, 2026 -1

Probably not, republicans hate educated people

-1

BadAsBroccoli Mar 20, 2026 -8

Yahoo reporting "young American man whose curls were backlit by the crimson glow of the dance floor".

-8

LadyKT Mar 20, 2026 -5

how did he end up alone?

-5

Ace_Karma_ Mar 20, 2026 -5

Damn I was at that club 3 days before this happened

-5

US college student's death in Barcelona was likely an accident, Spanish police say

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