A body of a man was recovered from the sea at Qawra on Sunday afternoon, the police said.

The body was noticed at around 5.30pm.

In a statement on Monday morning, the police identified the man as an 81-year-old who lives in St. Paul's Bay, saying that he had encountered difficulties while swimming near Qawra Point.

An Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat was called to the site and AFM members lifted the body out of the water.  The body was taken into the AFM's Maritime Base.

Duty magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo is leading an inquiry, while police investigations are ongoing.