Pretoria - The body of Jaco Badenhorst, who drowned while swimming at Bon Accord Dam north of Pretoria on Saturday, has been recovered.
As predicted by city rescue teams, four days after failed attempts to recover the body, it surfaced on its own.
Badenhorst was reported missing on Saturday after he disappeared in the dam while swimming with eight friends.
Police and city rescue teams had since Saturday been scouring the dam in search of the 43-year-old man.
This tragic incident left family members and close friends traumatised.
When the body was discovered, Badenhorst’s girlfriend Menita Visagie broke down sobbing and apparently became hysterical.
Visagie’s mother said she was relieved the body had been found and family and friends would find closure.
A witness who did not want to be named said he had been there when Badenhorst disappeared under the water. He said he knew Badenhorst and his friends as he often fished at the dam.
“He was always here with his girlfriend who works near the Bon Accord Dam,” he said.
He said that Badenhorst was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.
Emergency services spokesman Johan Pieterse said the circumstances surrounding the drowning were not clear, and would be investigated by the relevant authorities.
“We must wait for the autopsy to find out what might have been the cause of this drowning incident and avoid speculation,” he said.
Pieterse added that he was relieved that the body had been found and applauded the effort of the divers and the police.
He also said the family would now find closure knowing that the body of their loved one was found.
Pieterse also emphasised the importance of wearing life jackets when swimming in open water.
He said it was crucial that people must make it a priority to take precautionary safety measures at all times.
Pretoria News