Family of missing Australian man Rye Hunt say they remain hopeful he will be found safe and well

THE family of missing Australian Rye Hunt remains hopeful in their search despite reports of a corpse floating off Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

A body has been spotted in the sea off the coast of Rio with similar clothing to missing man Rye Hunt.

ANOTHER day, another clue in the baffling disappearance of missing Australian Rye Hunt.

Police are searching waters off Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro following reports of a body spotted floating at sea.

Crew of a fishing vessel told authorities the body was seen near an archipelago about 8km from where Mr Hunt was last seen.

They crew said the corpse was wearing clothes resembling those Mr Hunt was last seen in, police said.

The 25-year-old Tasmanian man has been missing since May 21 when he left Rio’s international airport to “cool off” after a disagreement with a friend. He hasn’t been seen since.

Mr Hunt’s family flew to Rio to help in the search this week. They addressed the latest reports, saying they remain optimistic.

Bonnie Cuthbert has travelled to Rio to search for her missing boyfriend Rye Hunt. Picture: Felipe Dana/AP

“A body has been sighted eight kilometres offshore from Copacabana Beach,” the family said in a statement.

“The local authorities have initiated a search in the region. However, no body has been recovered at this point.

“Rye remains a missing person ... and the family remains determined and hopeful in our search.”

Mr Hunt’s long-term girlfriend, Bonnie Cuthbert, 25, said she was treating any lead cautiously.

“We’re obviously very apprehensive, nervous, but still very hopeful,” she said.

The family received news earlier this week that Mr Hunt was alive and well on an island in Rio. Brazilian authorities claimed he had been found after undergoing a psychotic episode and swimming to the deserted island.

They later claimed that wasn’t the case. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the Australian was still missing.

CCTV footage shows Rye Hunt in Rio before he disappeared. Picture: Polícia Civil do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/AAP

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware that Brazilian police noted a possible sighting of Mr Rye Duval Hunt by a fisherman on an offshore island near Rio de Janeiro on the weekend,” DFAT said in a statement.

“Australian Embassy officials are in Rio de Janeiro to provide support to Mr Hunt’s family members who travelled to Brazil on 1 June. All possible consular assistance is being provided to the family.”

Police said earlier this week that Hunt and his friend had used drugs before going to the airport. That statement did not explain where that information came from, but local media have said witnesses reported the pair appeared high.

Ms Cuthbert said she had never seen her partner use illicit substances.

“He is the biggest fitness freak I’ve ever met, and it’s completely unlike him,” she said.