Pretoria – Authorities have located the body of a man who went missing on Christmas Eve from the waters of Hartbeespoort Dam.
The man was last seen while fishing on Tuesday afternoon.
On Christmas Day, police divers, with the support of NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam and the Strategic Rescue Unit, found and retrieved the man’s body.
Arthur Crewe, commander of the NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station, stated: “At 16:14 on Tuesday, December 24, the NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam duty crew was activated following reports of a missing man amidst the Hyacinth while fishing from a canoe near Kosmos, Hartbeespoort Dam.”
Crewe elaborated: “The NSRI rescue boat Sea Legs was dispatched, and rescue swimmers from NSRI, along with the SRU and South African Police Services, responded to the location.
“Despite thorough search efforts, no sign of the local man, reportedly from Malawi, was uncovered. Consequently, the Police Water Policing and Diving Services joined in the ongoing search operations.”
On Christmas Day around 10:30, police divers, supported by NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam and SRU, successfully found and recovered the man’s body from the lake.
“The body has been handed over to the Police and the Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” stated Crewe.
An inquest docket has been initiated by the authorities.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” added Crewe.
