The body of a youngster, reported missing after he went swimming in the sea near Arthunkal with his friends on Sunday, surfaced near the shore on Tuesday morning.
According to police, Rajeev (26), a resident of Anchal in Kollam district, had gone swimming along with 15 of his friends around 6 p.m. on Sunday after participating in a function at Chavara in Kollam. Two from the group, Rajeev and Binish, were swept away by strong waves.
Locals and fishermen present near the area managed to rescue Binish but could not trace Rajeev though the search operations were extended till late on Monday.
The decomposed body, which surfaced early on Tuesday, was noticed by fishermen. They alerted the police and brought it ashore. The police shifted the body to the Cherthala Taluk Hospital, where it will be handed over to relatives after the post mortem.