Rasbert Turner, STAR Writer

An investigation is under way in the St Catherine North Police Division to ascertain the identity of a body that was taken from a canal near the Spanish Town Bypass yesterday.

Reports are that the body of the male was taken from the irrigation canal about 4 p.m.

The police, along with the fire department, worked in tandem to have the body removed. Investigators said that from about 11 a.m., the police received information about the body of a male in the water tributary.

When the body was spotted, it was lodged awkwardly in the canal and therefore needed help from the Fire Department to retrieve it.

The action brought traffic to a standstill as the area had to be blocked off.

This also resulted in scores of curious onlookers converging to get a glimpse of the body.

The male is yet to be identified.

The cause of death has not yet been ascertained.