The days-long search for a Sydney teenager who went missing at an unpatrolled beach on the NSW mid north coast has turned into a recovery operation.
Ali Mosawi, 17, was swept away by a rip at isolated Pebbly Beach in the Yuraygir National Park, north of Coffs Harbour, on Saturday afternoon.
He was waist-deep in the rough surf with his brother and three cousins when they all got into trouble.
Police say four of the teenagers managed to make it back to shore, including an 18-year-old who spent almost 48 hours recovering in Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
However Ali, who is not a strong swimmer, hasn't been seen since and NSW Police Inspector Joanne Reid says the search has now become a recovery operation.
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"By day three and four traditionally, you tend to get a body recovery in that time frame, so that's what we're hoping for," she told AAP on Tuesday.
"We'll re-assess tomorrow and if we still haven't found him, we may look at abandoning the search."
The operation involving police divers, Surf Life Saving NSW volunteers and drones was suspended at about 2pm on Tuesday because of "tricky" winds but will resume on Wednesday morning, Insp Reid said.
Photos from the scene show Ali's family and friends praying and embracing each other on the sand.
"There's about 30 of them who have been maintaining a vigil," Insp Reid said.
"It's just devastating ... they just want to take their son, their friend, their cousin home.
"Hopefully we can bring them some closure tomorrow."
Ali and his family, from Sydney's southwest, had driven up the coast for an Easter camping trip.
Ali is a student at Miller Technology High School, near Liverpool, and had been heavily involved in a project to build a race car.
His schoolmates have been in mourning since his disappearance.
