Forensic testing has linked a bone discovered at a popular Perth beach to a teenage boy who is presumed to have drowned last year.
The 16-year-old, who was of Ethiopian descent, went missing in November after entering the water at Scarborough Beach with three friends.
Police launched an extensive land and marine search but were unable to find him.
Authorities on Thursday said a member of the public had last month found what appeared to be a human bone at nearby City Beach.
"A subsequent forensic examination confirmed this was a bone of the missing 16-year-old boy," WA Police said in a statement.
"This matter still remains with the coroner."
Acting Inspector Cindy Morgan last year said witnesses had rushed into the water to pull at least one of the other three youths out of the water.
"Whether or not it was a rip that took them out or they were hit by a wave is unknown to us at this stage," she said.
"We believe that he was an inexperienced swimmer and obviously that makes it difficult to keep your head above water."
Devastated family members were seen scaling the beach with torches as they desperately tried to find the boy.
