THE body of an adventurer from the region who disappeared while river rafting in India has been found.

Ian Turton, 42, was reported missing on Monday after he failed to return from the trip with a friend down the crocodile-infested Cauvery River, near Bangalore.

It had been feared the York engineer, who disappeared along with his friend, Mike Easton, may have been attacked by crocodiles. No further details are available as to how he died.

The men are believed to have set out from their hotel in Bangalore last weekend to explore the forest area in the Mandya district and go rafting.

But the alarm was raised on Monday after it was discovered they had failed to return.

Mr Easton is still missing.

Mr Turton, from Huntington, near York, had been leading a project at automotive parts manufacturer Tenneco Automotive, in Honsur.

They had arranged for a cab driver to pick them up from their hotel on Monday morning, but when the driver arrived to collect them he found they had not returned and alerted Tenneco officials, who in turn notified the police.

A search was launched but hopes of finding them alive began to fade when their empty and damaged canoe was found in an area of fastflowing water on Wednesday, about 55 miles from Bangalore.

Mr Turton’s brother, Nigel, last spoke with him last Friday.

He described him as a “resourceful guy” who had been around the world on adventures and said that the Indian excursion was the type of trip the engineer lived for.

Sandro Paparelli, vice-president of Tenneco Europe, said Mr Turton had left behind many friends.

“He was a much appreciated colleague,” he said.

“We are all profoundly saddened by this tragic loss of life and extend our deepest sympathies to Ian’s family and friends.”

Mr Easton, from London, works for Shell, in Bangalore.

The company has chartered two helicopters to aid the continuing search by Indian authorities.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has said it is offering consular support to the families of Mr Turton and Mr Easton.