PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The mystery of the disappea-rance of two young men from New Horizons, who went missing during a canoe trip on the Keurbooms lagoon over a month ago, appears to have been solved.
It is believed that the body that washed up on the beach at The Dunes on Saturday 14 December could be that of one of the men.
However, the body was decom-posed "beyond recognition", said SAPS Southern Cape spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies.
DNA samples
Spies said a positive identification could not be made, based only on a description of clothing, and the SAPS were now awaiting the results of DNA samples taken from the deceased and a family member that were sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Spies said, technically, until a positive identification can be made, that both men were "still missing" and police are continuing with their investigation.
Canoe found
The two men apparently went on a canoe trip on the Keurbooms lagoon on November 14, and a red canoe washed up on the sea-side of the lagoon on November 21.
A massive search, involving the NSRI, police and a helicopter called in from Knysna to assist, revealed nothing.
Duran de Villiers, owner of AER Helicopters in Knysna, confirmed that he had been called out during the initial search.
'Something unusual'
On Saturday afternoon De Villiers had flown over the Keurbooms beach when he spotted "something unusual" on the beach.
He flew lower and on closer inspection saw it was a body that had washed up on the beach.
He contacted the police.
He said when he was called out to assist in the search for the two men, "I searched the area for quite a while".
'Put two and two together'
"When I flew past on Saturday and saw the body, I put two and two together, and in my mind it appears to have solved the mystery of one of the missing men.
"Only when a positive identifi-cation is made will it be certain," he said.
It is believed the recent spring high tide could have played a role in creating conditions that resulted in the body being washed ashore.
Inquest docket
Since the weekend discovery the public has been asked to provide information about the decomposed body of a man, dressed in an ANC T-shirt, that was discovered on the beach at The Dunes. Spies said Plettenberg Bay police had opened an inquest docket.
"Reports available indicate that police were dispatched to the scene where the body was found at about 18:30.
Autopsy
"On arrival they were directed to the body of a man by security personnel deployed in the area. The deceased was dressed in a yellow T-shirt with an ANC logo and black track suit at the time of the discovery," said Spies.
While the identification process is under way, an autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted during the week, according to Spies.
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