Martin Gurule, 29, was the first man to break out of Texas's death row since a member of the Bonnie and Clyde gang escaped in 1934.

His bloated corpse was discovered floating beneath a bridge less than 2km from Huntsville prison, Walker County, by two off-duty staff fishing in the river.

Gurule's identity was confirmed by his prison clothing and facial features.

The first death row escapee since 1934

Prison officials said he probably drowned, but blood on his body indicated that he might have been shot by guards or cut by razor wire during his escape.

"The body is somewhat expanded having been in the water for a while," a spokesman for the prison said.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Larry Fitzgerald said an autopsy was to be performed.

The authorities had said that Gurule was able to get over the 3m razor fence without serious injury by wrapping himself in cardboard and two sets of underwear.

$5,000 reward

The discovery of Gurule's body followed the announcement of a $5,000 reward for his capture after a massive manhunt failed to turn up any leads.

He was among seven condemned killers who tried to break out of the Ellis Unit in Huntsville a week ago.

Gurule escaped over this razor topped fence

Their plan relied on the well known trick of fashioning dummies to put in their beds so it appeared they were sleeping.

They stayed behind in the prison's recreation yard, where they cut through an interior fence and hid on a roof for several hours. They used dye from felt tip pens to colour their prison overalls grey.

But a prison guard spotted them jumping from the roof and sounded the alarm. Six of them surrendered as guards opened fire, but Gurule continued running.

His escape sparked a massive manhunt involving 500 officers. Bloodhounds and helicopters with night-vision cameras were also used to search snake-infested swampland around the prison.

Bush orders investigation

Governor George W Bush has ordered an investigation into the breakout.

Huntsville prison officials said Gurule may have been helped by a Mexican mafia prison gang.

Gurule was sentenced to die by lethal injection for shooting two men during a restaurant robbery in 1992.

His appeal against conviction was turned down last year, but no date had been set for his execution.