A body from the Congaree River has been recovered. Rescue crews had been searching since midday Sunday for a swimmer who went missing between the Gervais Street Bridge and the Blossom Street Bridge.

The body was found closer to the Blossom Street Bridge, said Capt. Robert McCullough, spokesman for SCDNR. He said the male’s body was found just after 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Since Sunday Richland County Sheriff’s Department personnel with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the Columbia Fire Department had been set up at a river access area on Gist Street in Columbia. The man who went missing on Sunday was trying to swim across the river with three others.  McCullough said he turned to go back to shore and did not make it. The swimmers were not wearing life vests,

A coroner will have to confirm the identity of the body, McCullough said.