The 42-year-old man who was pulled unconscious from the sea in the Finikoudes area in Larnaca had drowned, the autopsy showed on Tuesday.

The autopsy was performed by state examiner Angeliki Papetta who added that the laboratory tests are pending.

The man, a British permanent resident of Mazotos, had gone swimming with friends on Monday when he disappeared.

His friends located him unconscious at the bottom of the sea.

The 42-year-old was taken to shore and given first aid but he did not respond.

He was then transferred by ambulance to the Larnaca general hospital where the doctors on duty pronounced him dead on arrival.