Derek Mickel died on Saturday in Fuerteventura.

The 79-year-old was still a director at the family building firm.

He was taken from the sea by holidaymakers on Pajara beach in Costa Calma but emergency services were unable to save him.

A spokesman for the family told the Daily Record: “Mr Mickel was a prominent Scottish businessman having joined the house builder as a third-generation family member in 1961, becoming a director in 1966 and serving as chairman of Mactaggart & Mickel for eight years up to 2012.

“He continued to be a director of the business. His son Andrew, a fourth-generation family member, joined the company in 2000 and is Homes chairman and group director.

“There will most likely be a postmortem, given the sudden nature of his death, therefore no further details are available at this time.”