Cypriot tourists 'tried to save' drowning Brit, 21, while lifeguards 'on their phones'

The 21-year-old, whose name has not been released, was found floating in the water of a hotel on the island Cypriot from Paphos, while a witness claims that local rescuers did not notice him. what was going on

Paphos Embankment in Paphos, Cyprus, where a British tourist died (

Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Horrified tourists reportedly tried to save a young British holidaymaker who drowned in a Cypriot swimming pool while distracted lifeguards were seen 'on their phones'.

The 21-year-old, who was found unconscious and floating in water at the King Evelthon Hotel in the Tomb of the Kings area on the Cypriot island of Paphos, died tragically on Tuesday evening.

The young man - believed to have been on holiday with his parents - was found around 6pm, a Paphos Police spokesman told

His body was pulled from the pool, but a witness said rescuers were too far away to notice the drowning man.

The Briton was taken to Paphos General Hospital (

Picture:

National Organization of Health Services)

A witness said the unconscious Briton was only noticed by lifeguards as a performer yelled at them - having already been pulled out of the pool.

The rescuers were seen using their cell phones, according to the witness, as they were allegedly too far from the action to see the incident unfold.

A Cyprus hotel holidaymaker described the incident as 'heartbreaking to watch' as ​​the woman who found the Briton was in shock.

The tourist took to Facebook and wrote in a post: "It was truly heartbreaking to watch. They worked on it for ages but came to nothing.

"The poor woman who found him is in good condition, bless her."