A dead body was dragged from the water near the cruise ship terminal yesterday as crowds of tourists looked on.

Police have not yet officially identified the deceased, who is a black male, but he is believed to be Bermudian.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said last night: "At around 1.45 p.m. today, Police responded to a report of a man's lifeless body in the waters off Heritage Wharf Bridge in Dockyard, approximately 100 metres from the new cruise ship terminal.

"A member of the public initially noticed the man's body in the water. The victim appears to be a black male. Foul play is not suspected.

"The Bermuda Police Service would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the community in the area at the time that did everything they could to come to the aid of the victim. Inquiries into this incident are underway."

The man was removed from the water by a Dockyard businessman with the assistance of a male tourist. Both swam out to the body and towed him to the rocks under the Heritage Wharf Bridge, by 'Broad Arrow'.

Robert Territo, co-owner of Segway Tours Bermuda, said he had just dispatched a tour for passengers on the Grandeur of the Seas and was heading back across the bridge when he was alerted to the body by Kevin Sousa, of KS Watersports.

He jumped over the railings and swam out to recover the man, who wore a blue t-shirt, jeans and sneakers.

"He was quite far out, it probably took 20 strokes to get out there," said Mr. Territo. "He was floating headfirst and when I saw him I knew he was dead.

"I grabbed him by the arm and checked his pulse, but he was gone. I could smell alcohol on him."

Mr. Territo, 43, of Somerset, was assisted by a cruise ship passenger in his 20s from Boston.

"The man swam alongside me and grabbed his torso. He told me he was a Marine, and we scissor-swam back to shore.

"We then placed him face down so people couldn't see his face."

Mr. Territo said the tourist then returned to the Norwegian Spirit and he waited at the scene until emergency services arrived.

"Everyone who works in Dockyard is like a family. If there's a problem, we as proprietors will do anything we can to help because we take a lot of pride in Dockyard," said Mr. Territo.

He said Mr. Sousa told him the body was first sighted by three female tourists.

"They thought he was moving in the water, but it was actually just the current," said Mr. Territo. "The man was fully clothed. It looks like it may have been an accident."

There were two cruise ships in port when the incident happened and Police had to ask crowds of tourists on the Heritage Wharf Bridge to move a short distance away as Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service officers attached a tarpaulin to the railings, to shield the man from view.

At 3.20 p.m. emergency services personnel then removed the deceased into an awaiting van to be taken away for post-mortem examination.

Luca Mezzapesu, manager of the nearby Bonefish restaurant, said: "I am shocked. Things like this do not happen around here, particularly a body in the water. I feel very sad for the man's family."