Police recover body of man who jumped from Channel Island Bridge near Darwin
Police have recovered the body of a 55-year-old man who jumped off the Channel Island bridge near Darwin on Friday night and was unable to swim back to shore.
A Northern Territory Police Force spokesperson said the man — who the ABC has chosen not to name following his death — "voluntarily" jumped off the bridge "accompanied by workmates" some time after 9pm.
They said the man was reportedly "laughing and active within the water", but began drifting away "despite his friends' attempts to encourage him" to return to dry land.
"He was last seen in the middle of the channel, drifting toward Darwin City in strong tidal currents," the police spokesperson said.
"Witnesses observed him for approximately two minutes before losing sight of him."
Police launched an extensive search and rescue operation on Friday night with help from a CareFlight helicopter and the port authority, and were joined by NT Emergency Service volunteers and others when the search resumed on Saturday morning.
However, a body matching the man's description was spotted in the water about 11.30am and recovered, before he was officially declared deceased.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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