Divers were hoping to recover the body of a missing boater this morning.

Around 8 p.m. Friday, an unoccupied boat going in circles was reported in the vicinty of Billy Dreher Island near Prosperity.

A host of rescue officials from the Newberry County Dive Team, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and Prosperity and Newberry County rescue squads spent Friday night, Saturday and Sunday searching Lake Murray for the missing boater.

“From the initial report, our agency along with the Sheriff’s Department and Prosperity were in contact with each other developing a plan of attack,” said Newberry County Rescue Squad member Chris Johnson.

On Sunday, officials stated that Jeremy Spires, 34, of Batesburg, had been fishing in the boat and was missing.

Coroner Craig Newton said he received a call from DNR this morning stating they thought they had pinpointed a location for the recovery of Spires, and planned to put a dive team in the water between 9 and 10 this morning.

Newton said he hoped the recovery could be made today.

Johnson said a number of people from local stations were assigned to the search team in the course of the weekend, working approximately 10-hour shifts on the lake.

“We also appreciate the assistance of the the dive rescue team from Union County that came down on Sunday and assisted,” said Johnson.