This is the moment beachgoers set off on a lifeguard’s signal to outmuscle rivals for the best ‘socially-distanced’ plot on a popular Spanish beach.

The incident was filmed in Torrevieja in the province of Alicante on the Spanish Costa Brava over the weekend, and shared on Twitter by netizen ‘Niporwifi’ where it has been viewed over 275,000 times.

Similar scenes at other popular beaches in Spain have also been shared on social media, racking up millions of views.

According to local media, residents and tourists in Torrevieja wait in a queue outside the beach from 6am every day to grab a plot in the sand to while away the day free from any nearby people.

Due to COVID-19 measures, a grid has been arranged in the sand that indicates where sun bathers can lie down. Many are willing to sprint to a plot with their beach chair and cool box in hand, outmuscling anyone who gets in their way.

As soon as a lifeguard gives the signal, the hordes of beachgoers run to the sand and battle for the prime spots.

Netizens likened the beach videos to scenes from ‘The Hunger Games’, westerns, and gladiator movies.

Twitter user ‘Aitor Burgos’ commented: “They look like gladiators training for a fight to the death, let’s see if they defend the country, the public sector, pensions and everything else they are taking from us. They run like real elite soldiers to occupy a square of sand. I cannot stop laughing.”

Netizen ‘Ana MOwl’ said: “Does the use of queues and numbers seem normal to you? I am crying here.”

‘Dani Gubbelmans’ wrote: “They put their chair, umbrella and towel down and then they leave, returning in three hours.”