[imagesource:savenues]

Yesterday, a beachgoer walking his dog on Zimbali Beach in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, stumbled upon a gruesome sight in the shore break.

A dead body was being tossed around in the waves, prompting the passerby to immediately call for help. As you can imagine, the Ballito community is rather rattled by this beach find.

Since the body was reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition, immediate identification has been challenging. However, according to a statement from Arrive Alive, the remains are believed to be those of an adult male even though the extent of decomposition has hindered confirmation.

The IPSS Search and Rescue teams, in coordination with the SAPS Search and Rescue, swiftly responded to the scene and successfully recovered the remains from the water.

Image: Arrive Alive

The circumstances surrounding the individual’s death are still a mystery and will be a part of the ongoing investigation, per Swisher Post:

“Our teams are working diligently to uncover the details surrounding this unfortunate incident. We are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in this investigation,” stated a spokesperson from the IPSS Search and Rescue.

The SA law enforcement authorities will have to follow a specific protocol to handle this ‘John Doe’ case, AKA a case wherein the identity of the deceased is unknown.

The process entails gathering any physical evidence from the scene that might assist in identification, such as fingerprints, dental records, and DNA samples, which are then cross-referenced with national databases.

If that doesn’t yield any results, then the authorities will appeal to the public for help, releasing descriptions of any distinctive features, clothing, or personal items found with the body, and reaching out to local communities and hospitals.

A mystery body is always unsettling, so hopefully details will emerge so that the relevant people can grieve and process this properly.

[source:arrivealive]