UPDATE: Body of Missing Fisherman Found Early Today

The body of a Pahala fisherman swept into the ocean on Saturday was located early today, Big Island police said.

The body of Ceasare Moses, 29, was found in the general vicinity of the end of South Point Road where he was throwing net when he disappeared, Ka‘u police Capt. Andrew Burian told Big Island Now.

A search covering 1,500 square miles had been ongoing since Moses was swept from the shore Saturday afternoon. The search involved both of the Hawaii Fire Department’s two search helicopters as well as a Coast Guard helicopter, C-130 aircraft and cutter.

Burian said it is believed that Moses died from drowning but an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

After Moses had been hit by a wave friends on shore tried unsuccessfully to throw him a flotation device.

The man’s companions lost sight of him when he was about 200 yards offshore and drifting towards the west, a fire department spokesman said.