Family of Australian missing in Brazil has hope he’s alive

RIO DE JANEIRO – The family of an Australian man who went missing in Rio de Janeiro in mid-May said Friday they’re hopeful he’s still alive, despite a report a corpse that might be his was recently spotted in waters off the city.

The girlfriend and uncle of 25-year-old Rye Hunt spoke to reporters shortly after a statement by Rio police saying the crew of a fishing vessel had spotted a body floating near an archipelago some 8 kilometres (5 miles) offshore this week.

The corpse was said to have been clad in clothes resembling those Hunt was last seen in, the police statement said. Searches in the area have not turned up anything, it said.

Hunt’s long-term girlfriend, Bonnie Cuthbert, and uncle Michael Wholohan, who travelled from Australia to help out in the search, were reluctant to address questions about the reported sighting.

“None of this has been confirmed at this stage,” said Cuthbert, 25, a nurse and midwife. “We’re obviously very apprehensive, nervous, but still very hopeful.”

Cuthbert and Wholohan said they have been in close contact with Rio police since arriving Wednesday. The two said they would remain in the city for as long as needed to find him.

Hunt, an electrician at a mine in western Australia, arrived in Rio on May 16 as part of a months-long world trip with a friend. The pair started in Southeast Asia and planned to spend two months in South America before heading to Europe, Cuthbert said.

Hunt hasn’t been heard from since May 21, after leaving Rio’s airport following an apparent quarrel with his friend.

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.

Asked about the reported drug use, Cuthbert said that in the many years she has known Hunt, she never knew him to use illicit substances.

“He is the biggest fitness freak I’ve ever met, and it’s completely unlike him,” said Cuthbert, who has dated Hunt for five years.

Authorities also have followed up on a report from another fisherman who said he ran into a man matching Hunt’s description on an island about 900 metres (984 yards) offshore from Rio’s Leme beach. The witness said the man had several bruises and when asked how he got to the island, responded: “Swimming.” A search of the island didn’t turn up any sign of Hunt.