The body of an 11-year-old boy who was sucked into a storm water drain near Wollongong has been recovered in a nearby creek bed.
Ryan Teasdale was last seen riding a bodyboard with his brother and friends down a muddy slope in Riley Park in Unanderra on Thursday afternoon as torrential rain swept through the area.
His body was found after 11am on Friday at a creek bed at the end of a stormwater drain about 500 metres from the park.
"The family of the boy have been informed, and the family asks that their privacy be respected, and we are going to continue with our investigations at this stage," Superintendent Zoran Dzevlan told reporters.
Ryan's 13-year-old brother raised the alarm about 4.30pm on Thursday when he couldn't find his sibling, sparking a frantic search which carried on until after midnight.
More than 100 people including SES, NSW Police and council, marine rescue and ambulance personnel resumed the search at first light on Friday.
Wollongong's mayor, Gordon Bradbery, visited the Teasdale family on Friday morning. He told AAP "the city is behind them" as they grieve.
NSW Police Rescue and NSW Ambulance officers at the scene in Unanderra where 11-year-old Ryan Teasdale was found. Source: AAP
The stormwater drain located at the bottom of Riley Park - which measures about 60 centimetres across - isn't covered by a grate. The mayor said covering it could create problems.
"If debris comes down that creates a dam and ... it would mean inundating property," Mr Bradbery told ABC TV.
"There are risks we need to mitigate. I am conscious of making things as safe as possible, but let's face it, the priority is to stay out of floodwaters."
The mayor said the boy's bodyboard was found down from the park having not gone into the drain.
Ryan was a student at Wollongong's Lindsay Park Public School, the major said.
Police on Friday cordoned off an area near the local pool close to Riley Park.
"Can I just thank everyone that was involved (in the search)," Supt Dzevlan said.
"On behalf of the family and, obviously, the police and all emergency services, thank you very much for your assistance."
