A small northern NSW community has been devastated by the tragic end to a search for a four-year-old boy.
The parents of Connor Elliott Graham, visiting Connor's aunt at Chatsworth Island, woke on Boxing Day and found their son was not in his bed and nowhere to be seen.
After a search involving police, the dog squad, helicopters, residents and 29 State Emergency Service volunteers, it is understood a resident discovered the boy's body hours later in the Clarence River, near the family home.
Police Inspector Brendan Gorman said he did not suspect foul play.
"We believe the child left the premises of his own volition," Insp Gorman told the ABC.
Chatsworth General Store owner Anne Law said the community was reeling.
"We are devastated but also grateful that it was resolved before nightfall," she told AAP.
"The family is just so grateful to everyone."
Neighbours told Network Seven everyone had helped with the search.
Earlier in the day, Connor's aunt told the Seven Network her nephew liked to run.
A toy belonging to Connor, who was wearing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pyjamas when he vanished, was found on Thursday morning at a nearby nature strip.
