Netflix star, 41, dies suddenly on beach as friends pay heartbreaking tributes to 'incredible actor'

An actor on Netflix died suddenly on the beach in front of shocked sunseekers as his friends pay tribute to his 'incredible' work.

Julián Ortega, 41, who is from the hit Netflix series Elite, was below a beach bar on Zahora Beach in the south west of Marbella, Spain, on Sunday when he suffered a heart attack.

Alarmed beachgoers called for medical assistance immediately as paramedics spent up to 30 minutes trying to revive the theatre and TV actor.

Despite having a defibrillator, they were unable to save his life. Ortega was from Madrid and was known for his roles in Caronte (2020), Elite (2018), and Nunc Et in Hora (2010).

Julián Ortega, 41, was below a beach bar on Zahora Beach in the south west of Marbella, Spain, on Sunday when he suffered a heart attack

The actor from Madrid was known for his roles in Caronte (2020), Elite (2018), and Nunc Et in Hora (2010)

Elite, which is set in a fictional elite high school and focuses on three working-class scholarship recipients, was met with critical acclaim.

The first of its eight seasons was streamed by more than 20million Netflix accounts within its first month of release.

Ortega appeared in six episodes of Elite as the manager of the beer and burger joint La Cabaña, as reported by NeedToKnow.

Fellow performers have been paying tributes to the TV star, whose mother is actress Gloria Muñoz.

Goya Award-winning actor Fernando Tejero wrote: 'Life can be so cruel sometimes. I'm heartbroken, dear friend.

Ortega posts a picture of himself in character to his Instagram social media page

Alarmed beachgoers called for medical assistance immediately as paramedics spent up to 30 minutes trying to revive the theatre and TV actor

Ortega appeared in six episodes of Elite as the manager of the beer and burger joint La Cabaña

'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 genuine, honest, and kind as his parents.

'I can't even begin to imagine how his parents and everyone who knew him in the industry must be feeling.

'It's just awful. I can't wrap my head around it. I'm filled with absolute sadness.'