The body of a 21-year-old international student who went missing during a kayaking trip yesterday has been found in waters off Brisbane.
The Chinese man had paddled from North Stradbroke Island to nearby Peel Island earlier in the day with six friends.
The group were heading back when they ran into trouble in the late afternoon.
Police said the wind and current worsened, increasing the time it took to make it home.
The group, in four boats, were separated about 5:00pm on Wednesday in rain and failing light.
Authorities were contacted and police began the search about 5:30pm.
An hour later, two kayaks with four people on board were found near Rainbow Passage.
A third kayak containing two people was located at 9:00pm near Amity Banks, halfway between the two islands.
They were briefly treated by paramedics.
Fourteen water police and volunteer boats searched throughout the night for the Chinese man, who was wearing a life jacket, with teams swapping over duties at midnight.
At first light this morning, a rescue helicopter spotted the kayak and a coastguard found the body just after 7:00am, in the Rous Channel.
Senior Sergeant Gary Worrell said everyone in the group was wearing life jackets and they had told people where they were going.
"It was just an unfortunate set of circumstances with the weather," he said.
"It is a sad result.
"Our deepest sympathies are given to the families, the international student community and the university involved in relation to this event."
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
