The body of James “Jimmy” Gracey, a 20-year-old college student from Illinois, was found Thursday in the water off a Barcelona beach, police in Spain said.

Gracey’s body was found by police divers and positively identified, the press office for Catalonia’s regional police in Barcelona told the Associated Press.

The University of Alabama student’s body was found near where he was last seen outside a nightclub with his friends early on Tuesday. He was visiting friends in Barcelona for spring break.

Catalan police say that their investigation continues into the cause of death.

Gracey was last seen outside the Shoko nightclub in Barcelona but separated from friends around 3am on Tuesday. Gracey never returned to the room he was renting with friends, according to family members who live in the suburb of Elmhurst, about 19 miles (30km) west of Chicago. They realized something was wrong when police contacted them, saying they had recovered his phone.

In an interview conducted before police confirmation of his death, Gracey’s aunt told the AP that he was “just a great kid, a good Catholic boy from the midwest”.

“Very good student, honors program at University of Alabama, chaplain in his fraternity, you know, just an amazing older brother and role model to his cousins,” Beth Marren O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly said her nephew left Alabama on Thursday and spent the weekend in Amsterdam before arriving on Monday in Barcelona, where he intended to spend the week with classmates.

Barcelona is a popular tourist destination that brings in millions of foreign visitors each year. It is generally safe – especially compared with major US cities – where tourists’ biggest worry is normally pickpockets.

Barcelona’s beaches, located within walking distance of its center, are a main draw especially for young visitors. The area where Gracey went out is on a stretch of beach with several restaurants and nightclubs that are frequented by locals and foreigners.

“We are keeping Jimmy and his family at the forefront of our thoughts, and our staff are in direct communication with the family to offer every support and assistance possible,” the University of Alabama said in a statement on Thursday.