SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. - The National Park Service has positively identified the bodies recovered Saturday from Lake Mohave as 70-year-old James Mercer and 74-year-old Francis Blossom both of Parhump, Nev.

Mercer was located near Tamarisk Cove at 9:30 a.m.  Blossom was located near Nine Mile Cove at 4:30 p.m.

National Park Service rangers of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area coordinated the effort that also included support from Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The search and rescue began at 5 p.m. Friday after the National Park Service received a report that the men were overdue by one of their wives.  The search was suspened late Friday night and resumed at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

The search ended with the discovery of Blossom.

The bodies have been turned over to the Clark County Coronor's Office.  Next-of-kin have been notified.

Lake Mohave is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service.

- NPS -