THE body of missing North-East diver Paul Swain is expected to be recovered today after it was located in a shipwreck by emergency workers.

The family of the 49-yearold Billingham engineer said they felt relief after hearing at the weekend that Mr Swain’s body had been found – nearly two weeks after he disappeared.

Mr Swain had joined nine members of a County Durham diving group on a trip to Malta at the end of October, where they were exploring the MV Xlendi, off the island of Gozo.

However, when Mr Swain, a part-time diving instructor, entered one of the wreck’s chambers, he became trapped and unable to escape when silt was disturbed.

Yesterday, Mr Swain’s father, Tom, an 82-year-old father of seven, said the family was trying to come to terms with their loss.

“My son, Mark, came and told me on Saturday that they had found Paul’s body and he said it would be recovered in a couple of days,” said Mr Swain, from Greatham village, near Billingham. “Everyone is feeling quite stressed, but I feel a bit better knowing that we will be able to give him a proper burial.

“It is difficult, but at least we can bring him home now.”

The Civil Protection Department in Malta was attempting to recover Mr Swain’s body yesterday, but had to call the operation off due to choppy water conditions.

Members of Mr Swain’s family have called for more warning signs to be placed around the chamber in the wreck where he went missing, as it is believed to be off-limits.

However, journalists in Malta said yesterday that there were already a number of warning signs in place, and they had been cleaned a week before Mr Swain went diving with members of the Sub Aqua Sports Association, based in South Hetton.

Mr Swain senior said the family could not understand how the tragedy had happened because his son was a very experienced diver.

He added: “Paul was very bright. He was a cheerful lad, who would help anyone.”

Mr Swain, who lived in the Low Grange area of Billingham, leaves behind his longterm partner, Louise, his father, Tom, and six brothers and sisters.