Pretoria – Police divers have retrieved the body of a man who went missing on Christmas Eve from the waters of Hartbeespoort Dam.

The man was last seen on Tuesday afternoon while fishing.

On Christmas Day, with help from NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam and the Strategic Rescue Unit, police divers found and recovered the man’s body.

Arthur Crewe, commander of the NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam station, remarked: “At 16:14 on Tuesday, December 24, the NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam duty crew was called into action after reports of a man missing amidst Hyacinth while fishing from a canoe in the Kosmos area of Hartbeespoort Dam.”

Crewe added: “The NSRI rescue vessel Sea Legs was sent out, and rescue swimmers from NSRI, along with the SRU and South African Police Services, headed to the scene.

“Despite thorough search efforts, there was no sign of the local man, who is believed to be from Malawi. Consequently, the Police Water Policing and Diving Services joined the search.”

On Christmas Day around 10:30, police divers, supported by NSRI Hartbeespoort Dam and SRU, successfully located and retrieved the man’s body from the lake.

“The body has been handed over to the Police and Government Health Forensic Pathology Services,” Crewe stated.

Authorities have opened an Inquest docket.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” Crewe concluded.