Divers recover body of man missing in Lake Grapevine

Rescue teams Monday found the body of a man in his 40s who had been missing since Sunday.

The body of Ben Masa, 44, was found about 11 a.m. in water 41 to 50 feet deep, said Capt. Cliff Swafford, a game warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Divers used sonar to help find the body, Swafford said.

No signs of foul play were reported and all the evidence so far points to an accidental drowning, but investigators will await a cause of death ruling from the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office, Swafford said.

Masa hit his head about 7:45 p.m. while the boat was moored in its slip at Twin Coves Marina at Lake Grapevine, Swafford said. He hit his head on a pontoon lift and fell into the water, Swafford said.

A friend of Masa’s jumped into the water to save him, but could not find him, Swafford said.

A Grapevine game warden was on the scene within minutes and began a search with the witness’ assistance, Swafford said.

“My game warden got the witness out of the water as well so he would not be a victim,” he said.

At 10:40 p.m. Sunday, Grapevine, Flower Mound and Lewisville fire department search teams had three different boats out on the lake searching for the man. They resumed their search shortly before 8 a.m. Monday.

This story was originally published June 7, 2015 at 10:59 PM with the headline "Divers recover body of man missing in Lake Grapevine."