An Italian man died after he was struck by a giant wave and washed out to sea while on a romantic holiday with his girlfriend in Tenerife.

Luca Brignone had been missing for a day before his body washed up ashore in the resort town of Los Gigantes, on the west coast of the famous Canary Island at around 12.30pm on Tuesday, 15th August.

The 25-year-old metal worker from the area of Madonna delle Grazie, in the town of Cuneo, Italy, was on holiday with his girlfriend Alessia when the tragedy happened.

The couple were reportedly enjoying their time together on a cove beach when the wave suddenly hit, Italian media claimed.

But while the 23-year-old woman managed to keep her head above the sea surface and was quickly brought to safety by lifeguards, Luca was nowhere to be found.

His disappearance prompted an instant search by the police, with crews rushing into the water to look for the missing man.

But after the search failed to provide results, he was only found when his body suddenly washed up on the beach the next day.

After having suffered a panic attack, Alessia was transported to the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur in the area of Playa de las Americas.

It was not disclosed whether she suffered physical injuries.