Colleagues of missing waiter Aldo Balia wept silent tears as they watched Marine Police transport his lifeless body to Darrell's Wharf yesterday morning.

The 35-year-old's body was found by Police at around 11 a.m. in the waters off the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. He was declared dead at 11.39 a.m.

The Portofino restaurant waiter was last seen alive by work colleagues some time after midnight on Saturday. The inflatable boat which he used to reach his yacht Sundancer was found circling empty with the engine still running between 2 a.m. and 2.30 a.m.

The empty boat was reported to Police at 8.55 a.m. after it bumped into local charter boat Andrea Christine at the Hamilton Princess dock.

With the help of civilians, 13 Police divers had been searching for Mr. Balia's body since Saturday morning, said Police media spokesman Dwayne Caines.

While he said it was too early to speculate on the cause of death, Mr. Caines said an autopsy will be carried out within the next 48 hours.

Originally from Sardinia, Italy, Mr. Balia had lived in Bermuda for the last ten years, the last five aboard his yacht which was moored at Hinson's Island.

Mr. Balia's brother, who flew in from Italy when he heard of his brother's disappearance, was too distraught to speak to The Royal Gazette yesterday.