A third day of searching has failed to find any sign of a western Sydney teenager feared drowned on the NSW mid north coast.
Ali Mosawi, 17, was among five youths who got into trouble swimming at the isolated and unpatrolled Pebbly Beach, in the Yuraygir National Park north of Coffs Harbour, on Saturday afternoon.
Police say four of the group managed to make it back to shore, including an 18-year-old man who later spent almost 48 hours recovering in Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
But Mr Mosawi, who isn't a strong swimmer, is believed to have been swept away by a rip.
A search operation involving police divers, PolAir, Surf Live Saving NSW volunteers and the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter was suspended on Monday evening and will resume on Tuesday morning, a police spokesman said.
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AAP understands Mr Mosawi was a student at Miller Technology High School, near Liverpool, in Sydney's southwest.
Some of his friends have started posting messages of grief on social media.
In a tribute on Instagram, friend Ali Al Zameli said: "You had only 2 more terms till you graduated from school and you'd be full of excitement gonna miss you heaps brother you were a really close friend."
Mr Mosawi, an avid handyman, was heavily involved in the school's project to build a race car.
"It is with a sad heart that we acknowledge one of our students and pitcrew Ali (is missing)," a post on the project's Facebook page reads.
Friend Aporosa Qolivi commented on the post: "Forever in my heart brother."
"You will never be forgotten," Taysir Elnor said.
