Freelance journalist Harry Clahar is dead. Clahar died on Thursday after drowning at the Yallahs Beach in St. Thomas. He was 50 years old.

Clahar served the media fraternity for many years, having worked at The Gleaner, The Herald, The Jamaica Observer, Hot 102 FM and as part of the Nationwide News Centre.

One of his friends, who requested anonymity, said Clahar was her confidant. The friend, who had known Clahar for more than 12 years, said the journalist had moved to the parish less than a month ago.

"I spoke with him on Wednesday and promised to go and visit him tomorrow (today)," she said.

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network are that Clahar drowned about 3:30 p.m. His body was fished from the water at approximately 8:30 p.m. and removed to the Morant Bay Morgue for post-mortem investigations.

"He had gone swimming and while swimming he got into difficulties and drowned before help could reach him," the report said.

TheMorant Bay police are investigating.