HOUSTON:  The US authorities have recovered a body believed to be that of an Indian IT professional who went missing last week after a suspected drunken driver knocked him into a river when he tried to help the victims of a car crash.

A body found in the Brazos River near Clute is believed to be the remains of Puneet Nehra, 43, according to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.

Divers with Equusearch recovered the body around 1 p.m. Saturday after the search for the man was extended downriver.

Mr Puneet Nehra, 43, of Sugar Land, went missing on May 3 while he was assisting a motorist involved in a minor wreck at a bridge crossing the Brazos River at the Grand Parkway, ABC news reported.

A passing driver struck the stranded car while Mr Nehra and another person were trying to push it to safety, authorities said. The force of the impact apparently threw Mr Nehra off the bridge and into the fast-moving river, about 50 feet below.

The driver suspected of striking the stranded car, Gregory Lee Kure, 30, of Needville, was arrested and has been charged with intoxication assault, authorities said.

Sheriff’s officials said Kure struck the stranded car only a few minutes before any first responders arrived at the accident scene. He was later released after posting a $ 25,000 bond but may face additional charges, officials said.

The Sheriff’s Office, along with local fire departments, have been actively searching the river by boat and helicopter for the last one week.

Mr Nehra migrated to the US from Noida in 2005 and was working in Avanade – a Microsoft and Accenture joint venture.

Although they believe the body found in the river is Mr Nehra, an official identification will be made by the Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office.