Family mourn teenage swimmer's death

The family of Carl Salomon are searching for answers after the teenager's body was pulled from Sydney Harbour following a night out drinking.

The talented sportsman and a friend, both 19, jumped a fence early on Thursday morning and swam out to a construction barge off the Balmain East wharf in the city's inner west.

Mr Salomon and his friend began climbing a 30-metre high crane that jutted out over the harbour.

Police believe Mr Salomon, a former Newington College student, continued ahead of his mate up the boom before he landed in the water.

It is understood investigators believe Mr Salomon most likely jumped rather than fell off the crane because the teen cleared the barge below.

When he did not resurface, his mate swam around the wharf for 10 minutes in a desperate attempt to find him.

Less than four hours later, police divers pulled Mr Salomon's body from the water.

A steady stream of friends and his grief-stricken parents visited the construction site and laid flowers for the University of Sydney student.