The united efforts from various emergency personnel resulted in the swift recovery of the body of a man who had drowned at Wagendrift Dam yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.

Members from the Ladysmith K9 Unit, Estcourt police, Honourary Officers, Ezemvelo Wildlife staff, paramedics and other police units were present at the dam, ready to lend a hand.

The 36-year-old man was fishing with his employer. The two men were reportedly enjoying day out fishing at the dam, as the employer had celebrated a birthday earlier in the week.

They had secured a shady spot and cast their lines. At about 4.30pm when he waded into the water to retrieve a lure.

While swimming back to the shore, the man reportedly experienced difficulty and drowned. A police diver and police dog, assisted by a paramedic, recovered the man’s body in less than 30 minutes.

Friends of the deceased man said that he was from Gauteng and working in Estcourt. They expressed deep regret, recounting the last time they had seen him, saying it was earlier yesterday morning, when he had lost his dog to cancer.