The severed head and torso of the iconic C Y O'Connor statue has been found on the ocean floor of North Coogee Beach.
The search for the top half of the statue began after the City of Cockburn received reports regarding damage done to the statue over the weekend.
The damaged statue.
"The City is investigating how Tony Jones' famous bronze sculpture of celebrated 1800s engineer C Y O'Connor at North Coogee Beach came to be damaged over the weekend," the city said in a social media post.
"We have received numerous reports of the damage which has left the 19-year-old statue cut-off at the torso with the rider's hips and the horse still in place, 30 metres offshore."
The City of Cockburn has now revealed that the top half was found on the ocean floor - but they're still looking into how it broke off in the first place.
"The operation will also endeavour to temporarily remove the statue itself so that the severed section can be reattached by the artist on dry land, and then reinstated as soon as possible in coming weeks," a statement from the city said.
"A warning float will be attached to the remaining pylon in the interim.
The city said it would work with the statue's original artist Tony Jones and the Department of Transport to retrieve the torso and fix the monument.
In the meantime, the city said it was looking into "several" reports about a catamaran seen near the statue around 3pm on Sunday afternoon.
"The assistance of local yacht clubs, marinas and harbours has been requested to identify the vessel to see if its skipper or crew can provide any additional information about the statue or the damage," they said,
Following the damage, artist Tony Jones told 6PR's Simon Beaumont he believed he could fix the artwork.
"I wish I knew more," he said.
"I suppose anything's fixable but it's so sad... if it's in the water and can be retrieved then it can be welded back into place without too much drama."
The North Coogee monument commemorates the moment Irish engineer Charles Yelverton O'Connor shot himself at the beach while he rode his horse out to sea in 1902.
It was first erected in 1999.
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