Teen's body found after Blue Mountains camping trip disappearance

A 16-year-old boy has been found dead in a Blue Mountains creek after losing touch with his companion on a camping trip.

Police were told he and a 17-year-old boy travelled on Tuesday to the train station in Leura, about 80 kilometres west of Sydney, before setting off for Mount Hay on foot.

It was supposed to be a three-day camping trip but about 5.45pm on Wednesday the older boy activated his personal locator beacon when they became separated.

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His disappearance sparked a major emergency response with the Blue Mountains Rescue Squad, PolAir, NSW Ambulance paramedics, and the TOLL Rescue Helicopter all joining in a land and air search.

They winched the 17-year-old to safety from the Acacia Flat campground but couldn't find the 16-year-old.

The older teenager was uninjured but was shaken up by the events.

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The 16-year-old was eventually found dead in a creek relatively nearby in Blue Gum Forest about 1pm, after authorities handed out photos of the missing boy to other hikers.

A post-mortem still needs to be carried out to determine how the boy died, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Stephanie Beehag from Epiphany Tours was out walking with clients as emergency crews responded.

"I am an experienced hiker, and I would not tackle that hike in summer," Stephanie Beehag from Epiphany Tours said.

"And then at about quarter past one, I saw the toll chopper circle and leave.

"We thought he'd been found, so heartbreaking to hear the news he'd passed away."

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