The body of a 64-year-old man was yesterday found at the bottom of a reservoir in the Siġġiewi countryside, puzzling investigators who are trying to establish how he lost his life.

The man, from Siġġiewi, was reported missing on Wednesday evening and the police started a search in the area known as Ta’ Lawrete. His car was found in the vicinity.

Members of the Civil Protection Department helped scour the countryside but it was only at about 12.45 p.m. that the man’s corpse was eventually discovered in a privately owned reservoir.

The CPD had started emptying the large reservoir, which holds about a quarter of a million gallons of water but is not connected with the public water supply.

The body of the man, who worked a field nearby, bore several bruises.

The police are now waiting for the results from the autopsy, which will take place today, to shed more light on the case.

Magistrate Myriam Hayman appointed experts to help her in the inquiry as police carry on with their investigation.