An Australian man who was reported missing after falling from a tourist boat in the famed Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam on Monday has been found dead later in the afternoon, local authorities said.

The deceased, identified as 54-year-old Stephen John Scott, was discovered drowning in the bay off the northern Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh by two local fishing boats, four hours after going unaccounted for.

The fishermen then notified a team of on-duty rescuers to help take him ashore.

Scott was the leader of a group of foreign holidaymakers, who were on a sightseeing tour in Ha Long Bay on the Bien Ngoc 20 tourist boat, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The Aussie fell off the boat at around 8:45 am, with local authorities immediately launching a search and rescue mission.

The Vietnam News Agency cited initial reports from Quang Ninh authorities as saying that Scott had jumped off the boat of his own accord.

Quang Ninh officials are completing procedures to give the victim’s body back to his family.

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