The body of a British kayaker has been found two weeks after he went missing in a Swiss river on May 16.

Bren Orton, 29, was found in Lake Maggiore which lies between Italy and Switzerland earlier this week after rescuers recovered a body.

In a statement, local police confirmed they had found Mr Orton and were currently investigating how he had died.

Following the announcement, hundreds of people have paid tribute to Mr Orton who had built up a major following on social media where he shared his adventures and demonstrated his kayaking skills.

A spokesperson for the Swiss police explained where Mr Orton had gone missing and how he was found.

They explained: “Shortly before 1pm in Locarno, the lifeless body of the man who disappeared on 16 May while kayaking in the Melezza was found in the waters of Lake Maggiore.

“The alarm was triggered by a sailor who found the body in the water and immediately notified the emergency services.”

An earlier statement from the Swiss authorities originally explained the circumstances behind Mr Orton’s disappearance.

A spokesperson said: “While kayaking with a group on the Melezza River in Switzerland, Bren became trapped in a recirculating feature and did not resurface.

“Authorities and friends are tirelessly continuing their search efforts.”

Paying tribute to Mr Orton on Facebook, former World Champion Freestyle kayaker James Reeves wrote: “Every few years we seem to lose a friend to our sport. Each loss is tough, and this one cuts deep.

“Bren Orton was an incredible human. From his teenage years, his warm smile and friendly nature shone as brightly as his kayaking skills … I was privileged to briefly mentor Bren in his early years, and then watched in awe as he rose to become one of the greatest whitewater kayakers ever.”