Police believe they've found the body of the young girl who was swept down the Hokitika River on Thursday

The body was discovered near the mouth of the Grey River near Cobden, on the West Coast around 8:30 this morning.

Formal identification is yet to take place.

Nine year old Emily Branje of Christchurch was swept away at the Hokitika river mouth while whitebaiting with an elderly man.

The elderly man, who also fell in, was pulled from the water by a member of the public.

Police are thanking volunteers and members of the public who helped in the search.