A missing man has been found dead in northeastern Kazakhstan after a search operation involving rescuers, divers, and drones.

The incident occurred in the Pavlodar Region, where a 61-year-old man disappeared after going fishing with a friend near the village of Shikildak, under the administration of Ekibastuz, The Caspian Post reports via Nur.kz.

The man stopped responding to calls after May 2, prompting a search effort launched the following day.

Rescue teams quickly deployed to the area, conducting a large-scale operation that included scanning the water with specialized equipment, patrolling the shoreline, and using search dogs.

A breakthrough came when a rubber boat was spotted during aerial monitoring using a drone. Divers were then sent underwater, where they discovered the man’s body at a depth of about five meters near the boat.

Officials noted that the victim was not wearing a life jacket at the time.

The body has been handed over to police in Ekibastuz as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy.