A Malaysian man working as a fruit picker has drowned in the Ovens River near Myrtleford in the state's north-east.
The 27-year-old went swimming with friends about 2pm on Tuesday but got into difficulties and disappeared under the water, said Leading Senior Constable Anthony Short of the Myrtleford police.
"His friends tried valiantly to locate him before police and ambulance were notified."
The man's body was found six hours later at 8pm by police search and rescue divers.