The body of missing Canberra man Alex Beddows, 32, has been recovered from the flooded waters of the Mississippi River, as the worst fears of his family and friends were confirmed by New Orleans detectives at the weekend.
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Mr Beddows's mother, Jan, and older sisters Anna and Sarah said he was "in the prime of his life and having the time of his life'' on a holiday to the United States with his father, Chris, The Canberra Times reported.
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Mr Beddows, affectionately known as "Woody", was last seen alive near a levee in the New Orleans district of St Albains after attending a jazz festival and making friends with a group he met at one of the many performances he saw that day.
Mr Beddows, a Department of Climate Change employee and DJ, was a popular and respected member of Canberra's drum 'n' bass scene.
Louisiana police believe Mr Beddows, who lived in Mawson, accidentally fell into the river while walking to his hotel in the dark.
His body was found late last week, submerged a short distance from where he was last thought to have been seen.
He was formally identified by authorities in the US over the weekend.
Hi father, a retired Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officer, returned home to Malaysia a week after his son vanished on May 8, having found no trace of him.
Mr Beddows's mobile phone and bank account had not been used since his disappearance.
Mr Beddows's mother made a desperate dash to Louisiana to support her former husband's search by retracing their missing son's movements and speaking to investigators. However, she was unable to find out any more information.
Many of Mr Beddows's 114 shocked Facebook friends maintained hope that he would be found safe and well.
Others paid tribute to the love they felt for a "gentle giant'' who was always keen to have a good time with his mates, showing his family a "friend to so many'' truly will be "so sadly missed by us all''.
The Beddows family will bring his remains home to Canberra to be placed alongside those of "big brother and guardian angel'' Nicholas.
A memorial event in Canberra is also planned, with details to be confirmed by the Beddows family at a later date.