A Netflix actor died suddenly on a beach in front of shocked sunbathers as his friends paid tribute to his “incredible” work.
Julián Ortega, 41, from the popular Netflix series Elite, was found under a beach bar on Zahora Beach in south-west Marbella, Spain on Sunday when he had a heart attack.
Alarmed beachgoers immediately called for medical help, while emergency workers spent up to 30 minutes trying to resuscitate the theater and TV actor.
Despite having a defibrillator, they couldn’t save his life. Ortega was from Madrid and was known for his roles in Caronte (2020), Elite (2018) and Nunc Et in Hora (2010).
Elite, set in a fictional elite school and focusing on three working-class students on scholarships, was met with critical acclaim.
Julián Ortega, 41, was under a beach bar on Zahora beach in southwestern Marbella, Spain, on Sunday when he suffered a heart attack
The Madrid actor was known for his roles in Caronte (2020), Elite (2018) and Nunc Et in Hora (2010)
The first of the eight seasons was streamed by more than 20 million Netflix accounts in the first month of its release.
Ortega appeared in six episodes of Elite as the manager of the beer and burger shop La Cabaña, NeedToKnow reports.
Other artists have paid tribute to the TV star, whose mother is actress Gloria Muñoz.
Goya Award-winning actor Fernando Tejero wrote: ‘Life can be so cruel sometimes. I have a broken heart, dear friend.
“You were such a great actor and an even better person, Julián Ortega. Fly high.”
Actress Sílvia Marsó added: ‘He was an incredible actor and a colleague who was as sincere, honest and kind as his parents.
“I can’t even imagine how his parents and everyone who knew him in the industry must feel.
“It’s just horrible. I can’t believe it. I’m filled with absolute sadness.”