Elderly SA man found dead in Murray River

The desperate search for the elderly man has ended in tragedy, with police divers finding his body in the Murray River east of Adelaide.

The body of 78-year-old Norman Grace was recovered on Saturday night, five hours after he fell into the river at Murray Bridge East.

The elderly man was in a three metre tinny when it capsized on the river, with two of his grandchildren on board.

The two children, reported to be around ten, were wearing life vests and swam to shore.

The missing man's daughter Kylie Jacobs said the boat was having engine problems when it tipped over.

"He bobbed up and put his hand up a few times but we couldn't see him after," she told News Corp.

Police divers joined the search from 6.30pm, and located his body near the Murray Bridge.