The grieving parents of Hamish Paul Rieger who was swept away by a wave thank police and searcher for bringing their son's body home.

Greg and Donna Rieger have been left devastated after the loss of their 17-year-old son Hamish after he was swept off rocks yesterday afternoon on Leisure Island.

Hamish Rieger doing what he loved. Photo Supplied.

Hamish a member of the Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service was with two friends watching the rough sea conditions when tragedy struck. A wave crashed over the rocks at the end of Moturiki (Leisure) Island that Hamish and his two friends were standing on.

The Mount Maunganui student was swept out to sea. Despite the efforts of the Coastguards, surf lifesavers and volunteers Hamish was not found last night.

A search was continued this morning and a member of the public spotted his body at 11am. Surf lifesavers and the Coastguard helped to retrieve Hamish's body.

In a statement his parents wished to thank those who helped to look for their son.

'We really appreciate the efforts of our surf lifesaving friends, the Police and everyone involved for bringing our son back to us,” they said.

'Getting him back means a huge amount to us; now we'd respectfully request space so we can concentrate on supporting each other through this time.”

Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service president Brent Warner says the club will pull together and younger members are being supported during this tragic loss.

'The Rieger family is hugely involved in our club and Hamish was a talented young lifeguard in his own right, who was on patrol earlier in the day,” Brent.

'This is an extremely traumatic time for all club members, but doing all we possibly can to look after one of our lifeguarding families.”