The body of a father-of-four who was swept out to sea while saving his children from a rip has been found following a four day search.
Dan Cojocea has been missing since Friday afternoon after swimming into a rip at Mary Ellis Wreck Beach, southwest of Port Lincoln, in South Australia.
He willingly got himself caught in the current to save his two sons and the daughter of his best mate, Riaan Grobler, who believed she was ‘going to die’.
Mr Cojocea’s wife of 18-years was seen returning to the beach on Sunday morning for the first time since his disappearance.
Search parties entered their fourth day of looking for the devoted father on Monday before confirming a body had been found.
The best mate of father-of-four, Dan Cojocea (right) who disappeared into the surf saving three children, Riaan Grobler (left) has described him as a ‘hero’ and a ‘gem’
Mr Cojocea had been on a family holiday and visited the beach with his friend and their six children.
The families began to suspect something was wrong when the children appeared to be dragged further out to sea.
Mr Grobler said the children were in the rip for about 10 minutes before Mr Cojocea bravely dove into the water.
‘He went in there without thinking and saved my daughter’s life… He’s a national hero. He is my hero without a doubt,’ he told The Advertiser.
Mr Grobler had run to the top of a nearby sand dune to get reception and called triple-zero for help when his mate vanished.
‘I have not seen him since,’ Mr Grobler said.
In a Facebook post made on Sunday, Mr Grobler said his ‘heart is shattered’.
‘You are a hero. My hero. You saved the kids, but couldn’t save yourself,’ he wrote.
Mr Cojocea bravely entered a rip at Mary Ellis Wreck Beach, southwest of Port Lincoln, (pictured) to save his two sons and Mr Grobler’s daughter
His wife of 18-years, Aline (pictured), returned to the beach for the first time on Sunday morning as search parties continue to search for her husband
He described the father-of-four as the ‘most beautiful husband and father’ who always had a smile on his face and was an ‘absolute gem’.
The incident unfolded with Mr Cojocea’s wife of 18-years, Alina, and two teenage daughters watching on from the shoreline.
The three children were released from hospital on Saturday after being treated for hypothermia and minor injuries.
Many of his 13 siblings have travelled from across the country to support his devastated family.
Search parties continue to focus on the shoreline and not the water in an effort to find the missing father.
Search parties are are spending the fourth day of looking for Mr Cojocea focusing their efforts along the shoreline instead of the waters (pictured)
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