Rye Hunt's family 'cautious' of Brazil island sighting reports

PHOTO: Mitchell Sheppard had been travelling for six weeks with Mr Hunt (R). (Supplied)

Police in Brazil said a fisherman reported seeing a man matching his description on an uninhabited island the day after he left his Rio apartment.

The family has released a statement saying Mr Hunt has not been found, despite media reports suggesting otherwise.

Mr Hunt, 25, vanished after separating from his travelling companion Mitchell Sheppard, 22, at Rio International Airport on May 21.

Marina Brandao, from Brazilian newspaper O Globo, said Cotunduba Island, was about one kilometre away from Copacabana.

"This fisherman, the police never actually talked to him, never actually met him. He called the central [hotline] to say he had seen a man that looked like the Australian," she said.

"The fisherman [reported he] saw him on the island, he was a little bit hurt, with scratches ... he was little bit hurt and he was thirsty, he was asking for water.

"On the 30th of May and the 31st [emergency services] ran a search at the island but no-one was found there."

Mr Hunt's uncle and girlfriend have arrived in Rio, where Mr Hunt was last seen at an apartment in Copacabana on May 21.

In a statement released overnight, family members said they were concerned by police reports Mr Hunt had become paranoid and anxious after taking drugs.

According to Brazilian police, the pair had taken MDMA at their hostel on the night before Mr Hunt disappeared.

Police said they then headed to a party in Lapa, where they mixed more drugs with alcohol. The pair then became psychotic and were kicked out.

O Globo reported that police had said Mr Hunt and Mr Sheppard had a bad reaction after taking the drug ecstasy the night before Mr Hunt disappeared.

"So they took the drug, they went to this party and they were in a psychotic breakdown," Brandao said.

The newspaper said: "We've talked to the owner of this club that they went to and the owner said that they were actually on a psychotic break and the owner escorted them home so that they would feel safe because they were really thinking everyone was after him."

The family said it was out of character for Mr Hunt to take illicit drugs as he worked in the mining industry and had regular drug tests and had never failed.

They also said he has no history of paranoia, anxiety or any other diagnosed mental illness.

The family hope the latest information will not lessen search efforts, as Mr Hunt may be in need of medical assistance.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she was concerned about Mr Hunt's wellbeing.

"I am concerned ... but I certainly hope that he will be returned safely to his family ... [who] are receiving consular support," she said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a statement saying Brazilian police noted a possible sighting of Mr Hunt by a fisherman on an offshore island near Rio de Janeiro on the weekend.

It said this information had not been confirmed via official police channels.

DFAT said all possible consular assistance was being provided to the family.

Mr Hunt, who is from Tasmania but had been working in Kalgoorlie in WA since 2012, separated from Mr Sheppard after the workmates had an argument at the airport.

They had travelling since early April, starting off in Thailand and travelling through parts of South America and were due to head to Europe for Oktoberfest.

Mr Sheppard is reportedly distraught and has been handing out photos of his friend around Copacabana in a desperate bid to find him.

Mr Hunt was captured on CCTV leaving the airport in a taxi and later checking into an apartment in Copacabana.

The ABC was told on Wednesday that a Brazilian police hotline set up after Mr Hunt's disappearancereceived three tips on Tuesday about possible sightings.

By BBC News Photo:  HUNT FAMILY