Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

A 23-year-old British tourist plunged to his death in the early hours of this morning (June 7) scaling a cannon at a historic Spanish site.

The holidaymaker, not named by police in Sitges near Barcelona, had climbed on the huge canon pointing out to sea after a night on the town.

But the young Brit apparently lost his balance and fell to his death on coastal rocks below while watched by horrified pals.

The police , who were informed of the tragedy at 3.12am today (7th June), said the victim was with two other people at the time of the accident.

The emergency services arrived on the scene and attempted to resuscitate the tourist, but he died of his severe injuries.

The Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police), who are investigating the incident, said: “Everything seems to indicate this was an accidental death.”

The cannon is an authentic replica of the original 18th-century gun, one of six that once protected the town.

The original stood next to the San Bartolome y Santa Tecla Church for 200 years before it was removed for restoration works.

The site serves as a gateway to the old town.

On 27th April 1797, the cannons were used in a battle with two English frigates trying to capture merchant ships anchored off the coast of Sitges.

After four hours of cannon fire, the English ships withdrew defeated.