A Scottish holidaymaker found dead on a beach on Ibiza appears to have drowned in heavy seas, Spanish police said.

The Civil Guard said Mark Cowan, from Prestwick, Ayrshire, may have slipped and fallen from rocks and into the sea.

They are dismissing claims that the 20-year-old was beaten up after being separated from friends.

It is believed Mr Cowan, who was found on the beach of Espuet in the resort of Port des Torrenat, had only recently travelled to the Balearic island with a group of friends.

We are pretty certain that he drowned

Civil Guard spokesman

His body was found early on Sunday morning but it was not until after midnight that his companions reported him missing to police -- and identified his body.

It has been claimed that he may have been beaten up after becoming separated from his friends with whom he had been drinking on Saturday night

But a spokesman for the Civil Guard, which has responsibility for security on Ibiza, said it did not believe Mr Cowan's death was suspicious.

Asked about reports that Mr Cowan's body bore signs of violence, the spokesman said he may well have been battered against rocks by the stormy seas.

"We cannot comment on these reports that Mr Cowan had been drinking," the spokesman said.

Post mortem examination

"But we are pretty certain that he drowned."

The weather in Ibiza had been unsettled since the weekend with most beaches flying the red warning flag to discourage bathing, he added.

The Foreign Office said relatives had been informed but the exact circumstances of his death were not known.

A spokesman said the results of a post mortem examination were not yet known.

He said: "There are concerns about Mark's death. But until this investigation is over, we will not know how he died."