The body of a 35-year-old swimmer who went missing in San Francisco has been recovered, police confirmed.
Authorities identified the victim as Nikolas Tomasevic, whose remains were discovered at Aquatic Park Cove around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, according to a statement from the San Francisco Police Department. Officials thanked divers for “their relentless efforts in searching for the missing swimmer.”
Tomasevic was last seen on Saturday, Aug. 23, around 10:15 a.m., swimming in Aquatic Park Cove wearing an orange swim cap and trunks. The SFPD said they were first notified of the missing swimmer at 2:20 p.m., nearly four hours after his last sighting, which complicated the search.
“Unfortunately, that person waited four hours to let us know. That is the gap in time that doesn’t really allow us to get a pinpoint location,” San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Mariano Elias told KGO-TV. He explained that crews worked alongside police, the Coast Guard, and highway patrol using sonar and other tools, but were initially unsuccessful.
The following day, the San Francisco Marine Unit continued searching the area and nearby piers with divers, remotely operated vehicle sonars, and cameras, officials said.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Tomasevic had spoken with family members in Serbia by phone the morning he disappeared and had planned to call them back after his swim. His wife, Aleksandra Ivanova, told the outlet, “I go between crying and shock. You never think this would happen. He was the kindest and the best person.” She also noted that he had a history of epilepsy.
Tomasevic was a member of the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club. “This is a tight community, and Nikolas was part of it as are his friends. It’s a sad day here,” club vice president Ken Coren said in a statement to KGO-TV.
Loved ones have launched a GoFundMe to help transport his remains to Serbia in accordance with his family’s wishes. “Our best friend, cousin, brother, son went to do what he loved the most and never came back,” the organizer wrote. “Nikolas will be remembered [as a] kind, selfless, decent, human being. The Dolphin Club was his happy place and he left us doing what he loved the most, swimming in the Bay.”
