Local shares story of finding missing Sydney boy

The local man who found a missing 11-year-old who spent the night in near-freezing conditions in northwest Sydney has spoken about the rescue.

Sean Clarence told Today he spotted young Christopher Wilson on the side of the road as he drove in to work.

"On my way literally walking to my car I checked my phone, watched the social media and his face was everywhere so I knew what he looked like," Clarence said.

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"Within three minutes of me checking my phone and jumping in the car I saw a boy on the side of the road, probably a metre into the bush on the side of the road."

Clarence spotted him about the same time as a woman called Kristie, who took him into her car to warm him up.

"By the time we got him into the car I was on the phone to police," he said.

"They were there within minutes."

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Clarence said the boy was disoriented, cold and very quiet, but otherwise in good health.

"It was incredible to see he was safe and he looked pretty good," he said.

"He was cold but other than that he looked in pretty good shape physically."