The Coast Guard recovered today the body of a 48-year-old fisherman who disappeared after falling into the ocean from a rock formation off South Maui on Friday night, Maui firefighters said.

At about 9:22 a.m., the Coast Guard found the man’s body floating about a mile west from where he fell into the water and about 1.5 miles offshore, said Maui Fire Department spokesman Edward Taomoto. A Coast Guard boat picked up the body and brought it to Maalaea Boat Harbor.

Firefighters first responded to a call about the missing fisherman at about 11:20 p.m. Friday in the Kahikinui area near the Pokowai Sea Arch, a hole in the lava rock over the ocean at Huakini Bay.

Firefighters arrived at about midnight and spoke with the victim’s fishing partner who said the victim fell about 10 feet from the rocks where they were fishing to the water and could not climb back up.

An initial search by firefighters was not successful.

Firefighters notified the Coast Guard about the incident at 2 a.m. and said the man had fallen from the sea arch and was last seen floating on his back, the Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, a 45-foot response boat-medium, and the cutter Ahi to assist. Firefighters resumed searching at first light with ground crews, a helicopter, and a rescue boat with divers, firefighters said.

Winds were about 15 mph with surf at about 5 feet in the area.