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Man who disappeared after entering river found after search and rescue operation near Mount Isa

police and emergency services launch a drone on the bank of a river

Police and rescue crews used drones to search the Leichhardt River for Mr Dempsey. (Supplied: Queensland Police)

In short:

A man who was last seen entering the Leichhardt River after severe storms on Thursday night has been found about 20 kilometres north of Mount Isa.

Emergency services conducted a search of the area where the man was last seen, including the use of drones.

The man is being taken to hospital for observation.

A man has been found safe and well after a major search and rescue operation near Mount Isa.

Regan Dempsey, 28, was last seen entering the Leichhardt River off Burke Street at about 7pm on Thursday.

The river was fast-flowing after heavy rain in the state's north-west.

Mr Dempsey was found at Lake Moondarra, about 20 kilometres north of Mount Isa.

He has been taken to hospital for observation.

Emergency services including police, swift water rescue crews from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, and SES volunteers had been scouring the banks of the river and using drones to scan the surrounding area.

Detectives also canvassed places Mr Dempsey was known to frequent and spoke to family and friends in town, as well as in Cloncurry and Townsville.

Rain raised danger level

Mount Isa Police officer-in-charge Adrian Rieck earlier said recent storms had made the normally dry section of river unusually dangerous.

"We have had a heap of rain here recently so it is quite active," he said. 

"At the time Mr Dempsey did go missing, that river was in flood and moving.

"That's why we [were] so concerned."