Essex County OPP say they have found the body of a 25-year-old man who was reported missing after swimming in Lake St. Clair.

The OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit assisted by the Essex County OPP marine unit has located the body of a LaSalle man.

Darren Castellan, 25, died while swimming off a boat that was anchored near Riverside Drive and Manning Road on Aug. 17.

An extensive search involving numerous Canadian and United States emergency services started shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday evening.

The OPP's USRU attended the scene on Sunday initiating their search which resumed today resulting in the location of the deceased.

Gail Roszl paid a visit to Llakewood Park Monday to pay respect to the family and friends of Castellan.

"It's hard. You just come down here and pray for them," says Roszl.

Roszl knows exactly how it feels after two of her son's close friends went missing after swimming in Point Pelee years ago.

"He had a really hard time," she says. "I can remember them going down with candles by the water after the body was found because that's where the incident happened."

Captain Ray Simard of Tecumseh Fire and Rescue tells CTV News Stations 1 and 2 were called to the area, but no one could be found.

"What we were originally looking for was a swimmer in distress,” says Simard. “Maybe someone caught in weeds."

Simard says they contacted LaSalle Fire and its secondary boat to Lakewood Park.

“They dispatched their main boat, the Pheonx, out of their harbour and met up with the Canadian Coast guard, the American Coast Guard, the RCMP, two OPP boats, one from Chatham one from Leamington and a helicopter in the sky," says Simard.

The search came stopped due to the darkness and resumed Sunday morning, when police called it a recovery effort.

Bob Brenko has sailed this area for more than 30 years.

“It's very unfortunate, doesn't matter what age you are that this happens," says Brenko.

“It's a shallow lake, maybe the deepest point in 20 feet," says Brenko. "If you get a North wind, it could get a little choppy."

Roszl want Castellan's family to know, she will continue to pray for them, so they can somehow find closure in this tragedy.