Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 26-year-old man at Silvermine Dam on Saturday November 20.
The man’s body was found by police divers after an alleged drowning.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in Kommetjie responded following an eyewitness report of a drowning in progress at the dam at 10.21am, according to Kommetjie NSRI station commander Johnathan Bakker.
NSRI personnel had confirmed on arrival that a 26-year-old man from Retreat had disappeared under the water while swimming with his girlfriend and two friends, he said. The man’s friends had tried to reach him before he disappeared underwater.
NSRI personnel searched the surface of the water while NSRI rescue swimmers and police and fire department scuba divers searched underwater.
Police divers retrieved the body which was taken to the province’s Forensic Pathology Services.
Provincial police spokesman Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said the man was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel and an autopsy would be done. An inquest docket has been opened.
