Albury-Wodonga pay tribute to Jules Lunanga, as his body is retrieved from the Murray River

Albury-Wodonga has remembered a popular young man who tragically drowned in the Murray River as a “gentleman” who was the first to help those in need.

The body of a man who went missing while swimming with mates on the Murray River on Christmas Day has been found.

For more than week emergency services have been searching for missing Julius ‘Jules’ Lunanga.

A community vigil attracting hundreds of Albury Wodonga was held residents on Thursday night but any hopes of finding Jules alive were dashed on Friday.

His body was found a short distance from the Kremur St boat ramp.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Earlier, the community of Albury Wodonga had gathered in their hundreds for a vigil at Nouriel Park on Thursday night.

A crowd of more than 300 people included family, friends, teachers, pastors, police officers and emergency services workers who had helped search for Jules.

Congolese music was sung by fellow Congolese community members.

Pastor Kalwindi Mbele remembered Jules as a generous Christian soul who enjoyed soccer.

“He’s a gentleman,” Pastor Mbele said.

“It’s why when driving, he saw someone with a flat tire and had to pull over and assist.”

When a community member needed help changing a tire, Jules instantly pulled over and helped them. It was the same day he lost his grandmother.

Senior Pastor of the Gateway Life Church Jason Mannering knew Jules from his time attending the Lavington church with his family.

“Julius was one of the most generous souls you could ever meet,” Pastor Mannering said.

“He always had a smile on his face, and was always very willing to help. He was the kind of 18-year-old that was on the front foot, very proactive and mindful, and very aware of others in the room.”

Pastor Mannering said Jules and his family first felt intimidated coming to Australia, not knowing what to expect from an Australian church.

But, they soon felt at home.

“They became family very quickly,” Pastor Mannering said.

Andrea Gwilliam was Jules’ librarian at Wodonga Secondary Senior College, where Jules attended school.

Ms Gwilliam said Jules and his friends would hang out at the library during school breaks, so she’d often help him and have a chat.

“You know when your heart hurts? That was what I felt (when I heard the news),” Ms Gwilliam said.

Diana Elliott helps immigrant families settle in their new home and was one of Jules’ support workers.

“He was just a lovely young man, he would help people whenever he could,” Ms Elliott said.

“He was very family oriented.”

As Jules was the sole income earner for his family, Pastor Mbele has created a GoFundMe to assist the family while they grieve.

Jules is the 26th person to have drowned in Australia this year, and the third in Victoria.