The search for a man swept from a flooded causeway in northern New South Wales has ended, with his body discovered downstream.

Brisbane Seventh-day Adventist pastor William Strickland had been officiating at a wedding rehearsal at Limpinwood, west of Murwillumbah, on Saturday and attempted to cross the causeway in a utility vehicle around 9:15pm (local time).

It is believed he was the sole occupant of the car, leading a convoy of three to their accommodation after the rehearsal, and the cars had already successfully crossed one causeway.

Police found the car 400 metres downstream of Youngs Road late on Saturday night.

Following an extensive search by police, SES volunteers, family and members of the church, the 53-year-old's body was located around 1pm on Monday.

Tweed-Byron Police District Inspector Matt Woods said over 170 people turned up to help with the search.

"It just shows you the standing and the love that this gentleman has had in his community," Inspector Woods said.

He said police had concentrated their search on an area several kilometres downstream of the causeway after finding an item of clothing there this morning.

Police who coordinated the search described conditions at the time of the accident as "extreme".

In a social media post, Pastor Strickland's family said they were "shocked and devastated by his tragic loss".

"[He] gave his life in service and ministry of the gospel … he will be deeply missed by all. Our family will not be the same without him. While our hearts are deeply saddened by his death, we know that we will see him again," the post read.

Pastor Strickland's son Cheonton Strickland said he wanted to thank the Limpinwood community for their support and help to "bring him home".

"They have opened their homes, allowed parking and access and food and water for the volunteers, we are most grateful," he said.

Cheonton Strickland described his dad as a great man.

"He was a man full of charisma and love and he touched the lives of so many people," he said.

"People often said you heard him before you saw him, he was just that type of individual.

"I'm proud to be his son."

Joseph Maticic, the general secretary of the Seventh Day Adventist church in south Queensland, said the congregation was in shock.

He said Pastor Stickland was an energetic, larger-than-life, gregarious and caring man.

The pastor had been with the church for over a decade, most recently working with the Cook Islands conference in Brisbane and as a chaplain with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency at Logan, south of Brisbane.

Prior to that, he oversaw the church's youth and children's ministries across south-east Queensland.

"A lot of people know Willie, he was quite an influential guy," Pastor Maticic said.

- Hannah Ross and Emma Rennie of ABC