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Washington Police and Fire-EMS-Rescue have recovered the body of a Vanceboro man from the Pamlico River at the Washington waterfront.

According to Washington Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford, the body of John Foote, 82, was recovered at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday.

Foote had a boat docked at the Washington waterfront, and told others he was going to swim to Goat Island, also known as Castle Island, before leaving his boat.

“According to the witnesses that called it in, they said he climbed down the ladder and got in, and they were watching him,” Drakeford said.

Drakeford said the call about the missing man came in at 1:57 p.m.  Foote’s body was recovered approximately 200 feet from his boat.

Washington Police and Fire-EMS-Rescue, Bunyan Fire Department, the Sydney Dive Team, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard participated in the rescue effort.