Body of swimmer, 20, found on NSW coast

The body of a 20-year-old male swimmer from Sydney who went missing in Hawks Nest north of Newcastle has been found, police say.

The body of a 20-year-old male swimmer from Sydney who went missing in waters north of Newcastle last week has been found by an early morning walker.

The 20-year-old, believed to be from Sydney's north shore, went missing on Friday afternoon when he became caught in a rip off Bennetts Beach in Hawks Nest.

The body was found by a walker at 5.30am on Tuesday, police said.

Searchers had been preparing to press on for a fifth day of searching on Tuesday when a member of the public reported the body washed up at Bennetts Beach, police said.

One man swimming with the 20-year-old on Friday managed to return to shore safely, while two others had to be rescued by life savers patrolling a nearby beach.