Police find body of 79-year-old rafter who capsized in Kimberley's Drysdale River
The search in Drysdale River National Park was hampered by heavy rains and rising water levels. (Supplied: WA Police)
In short:
West Australian police confirm they have located the body of a 79-year-old rafter missing for days in the state's remote north.
The tourist was part of a rafting group in the Kimberley when he fell into the Drysdale River on March 24.
What's next?
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
An extensive search and rescue operation in Western Australia's north has ended in tragedy, with police confirming they have found the body of a 79-year-old man who fell into a remote river.
The man was part of a nine-person tour group rafting on the Drysdale River in the East Kimberley, 150km west of Wyndham and 3,000kms north of Perth.
The alarm was raised about 1pm on March 24, with a report that two people were "in the water".
Police later confirmed a 79-year-old man had capsized, with a 59-year-old jumping into the water to help.
The 59-year-old got caught in a fast current and was rescued hanging from a tree 15 metres from the shore about 6pm that day.
A four-day search by WA and Queensland emergency services personnel and WA Police, concluded on Thursday when the 79-year-old's body was found.
Given the remote location, authorities chartered helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for the search.
The Drysdale River search area was inaccessible by road. (Supplied: DBCA)
Kimberley Detective Superintendent John Hutchison said extensive resources were used.
"This has been an extremely challenging search-and-rescue operation given the weather, difficult terrain and remote location," he said.
"I would like to thank everyone involved in this incident and express our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased man.
"Despite this operation being led by WA Police, we relied heavily on the resources and specialist skills of DFES to achieve this outcome."
The matter has been referred to WorkSafe and police will prepare a report for the coroner.