A 68-year-old man has died after reportedly being bitten by a shark near Shelly Beach, Port Shepstone, on Wednesday.
The German citizen was scuba diving when the incident occurred.
Fellow divers confirmed they were surfacing when the man disappeared.
A private fishing vessel found the deceased’s body, after an extensive search by the police and NSRI.
“The SA Police Services, Medevac ambulance services and Hibiscus Fire and Rescue Services also responded to stand-by at the NSRI Shelly Beach sea rescue base,” read a statement from the NSRI.
“A Natal Sharks Board fixed wing aircraft was placed on alert and the NSRI (ASR) Air Sea Rescue and an SA Air Force 15 Squadron Augusta helicopter were activated.
“An extensive drift pattern and sweeping line search operation was conducted utilising the 3 sea rescue craft, the Police Search and Rescue boat, private boats, private fishing boats, and charter boats and Police divers conducted a scuba dive search.
“During the search the remains of the body of the man, believed to have been bitten by a shark, were located by crew of a private fishing boat and the remains of the body were recovered from the water onto a sea rescue craft and brought to shore.”
His remains have been handed over to Forensic Pathology Services – and an inquest docket has been opened by police.