It has been a little more than a week since James Gracey, a 20-year-old student at the University of Alabama, died in Barcelona.
He was in Europe on his spring break visiting some of his friends, who were studying abroad. After a night out at Shôko nightclub — a popular club among students studying abroad — he was separated from his friends and didn’t return home to their rental the next morning.
After days of an extensive search, Gracey’s body was found washed up on the shore outside of Shǒko.
His death has been a stark reminder of how important it is to be safe abroad, especially among Americans studying in Spain who could find themselves in a similar situation.
Over the past months of my own UF study abroad program, I have personally felt quite safe in Madrid. When I go out, I am always with at least one or two friends. But since the news of Gracey’s death, I have been extra cautious. Even though Madrid isn’t a coastal city like Barcelona, it’s definitely put me on edge.
The other night, when I was out with my friend, we saw a guy about our age walking alone on the street. We asked who he was with, and in between slurred words, he told us he was separated from them. We helped him find his friends and then went about our night.
If this had happened a few weeks prior, I honestly don’t think I would’ve said anything. He was walking fine, out of the road and in a nearly straight line.
But after Gracey’s death, I have realized how much small moments matter. It’s made me realize how a conversation, or even one question, can make a massive difference.
And I’m definitely not the only person abroad who feels this shift.
Friends of mine studying across Spain and Europe have told me they’re more on edge, too. Some are even questioning the details of the investigation, which has only unsettled people even more.
One of my good friends is studying in Barcelona, and was even at Shôko the night Gracey went missing. When I reached out to him, he told me it was very eerie, and his friends felt anxious.
What makes this situation especially unsettling is how ordinary it was: going out with friends, travelling to new cities and enjoying nightlife. And that’s exactly why it resonates with so many.
Gracey’s death is a tragic reminder that staying safe abroad isn’t just about avoiding direct threats like pickpocketers or tourist scams. It’s about looking out for each other and recognizing when something feels off.
A little awareness can go an extremely long way.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her travels on Instagram @shaine_in_spain.
Shaine Davison is a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in environmental science. She has previously served as the editor of the enterprise desk and reporter for university and sports desks. This semester, she will be studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.
