Rye Hunt’s body handed back to family

RYE Hunt’s “heartbroken” family is preparing to cremate his body in Rio de Janeiro and bring it back to Australia.

Brazilian authorities on Monday officially handed Rye Hunt’s body over to his family.

RYE Hunt’s “heartbroken” family is preparing to cremate his body in Rio de Janeiro and bring it back to Australia.

Brazilian authorities on Monday officially handed Mr Hunt’s body over to his family and it was taken to a local funeral home while his girlfriend and uncle prepare to bring it back to Tasmania. The 25-year-old backpacker went missing on May 21 after he became separated from his travelling companion Mitchell Sheppard at the Rio airport.

They had an argument after the two took what is suspected to be a highly potent hallucinogen known as NBOMe.

Clinical tests have confirmed a body that washed ashore at Marica on June 8 was Mr Hunt.

His uncle Michael Wholohan, who has been searching for him in Rio for the past two weeks, lodged an application with a Rio court to have his remains cremated and repatriated.

“Rye has previously made clear his wish to be cremated and for his ashes to be scattered in his home state of Tasmania,” the family said in a statement on Monday.

If the application is granted, Mr Wholohan and Mr Hunt’s girlfriend Bonnie Cuthbert will bring his remains to Australia on June 15.

L-R Rye Hunt with travelling companion Mitchell Shepherd.

Rye Hunt is seen leaving Rio de Janeiro's Galeao International Airport.

His family said he was loyal, loving and an “infuriating!” brother after his body was found on a Brazilian beach.

“We are understandably heartbroken,” Mr Hunt’s sister Romany Brodribb said.

“Rye was the youngest member of our family and was known for being loyal, loving, generous, cheeky, and as a brother, totally infuriating!

“Thinking about life without him is unfathomable. He will be very missed by us all.”

His partner Bonnie Cuthbert, who went to Rio to join the search for him, said she felt blessed to have shared her past five years with her “beautiful Big Bear”.

“We have been so lucky to have found and loved each other so deeply. The love Rye and I shared will remain within both of us, forever.”

“We are understandably grief-stricken as we come to terms with the events of the past two weeks and will not be available for comment,” a statement said, adding the family asked for their privacy to be respected.

His body washed ashore on June 8 in Marica, just outside of Rio.