A local man was walking on the beach near the surf club shortly after 9pm when he spotted the body in the water directly in front of the club.

Police were yet to identify the body but it is believed it is that of 15-year-old Keon Sbrugnera who went missing in surf at The Entrance Beach on Sunday.

The body was due to be formally identified yesterday afternoon.

Police were told the boy was swimming with three friends when they became stuck in a rip.

His three friends managed to swim back to shore, but they lost sight of the boy behind waves.

An extension search of the area involving police, surf lifesavers, NSW Ambulance and Marine Area Command had failed to locate the boy.