“I grew up waterskiing where Kody died,” Mr Rae told the Mercury.

“I used to swim and dive where Kody jumped in.

“Once I had such fond memories of that place.

“I would often tell my boy to be careful.

“But you can’t stop young people having fun – and this was just a freak accident.”

Mr Rae paid tribute to Kody’s friends, who spent most of the night diving to the point of exhaustion in a desperate bid to find his body.

“Kody’s mates put themselves through hell to find him,” Mr Rae said.

“They were up all night, diving and diving in the river.

“Everyone did everything they possibly could to get him back.

“I am so proud of Kody, to know that he mattered so much to his mates.”

Police said the Raymond Terrace teenager and three friends had been swimming in the river, taking turns jumping from a rope attached to a tree.

After Kody jumped, he and another boy struck their heads together.

One boy surfaced, but Kody could not be found.

A police search continued at daylight and divers from Sydney found the young man’s body at 8.15am, near the spot where he was last seen.

Kody, an arborist who worked with his father, played football for Raymond Terrace as centre and fullback.

He was “big brother” to his five brothers and sisters.

“Kody was a larrikin loved by everyone and so full of life,” Mr Rae said.

“He would often tell us: ‘Having fun with my mates is my drug of choice.’”

Mr Rae said he particularly wanted to thank police and SES workers for their efforts, and for the comfort they gave his family.

His mother Kerry said Kody always had big plans for his future.

“He wanted to buy pop’s boat, to have cars and go waterskiing,” Mrs Rae said.

The Port Stephens police commander Superintendent Charles Haggett said the boys had immediately called for help when Kody could not be found.

“They were doing the right thing – and not swimming in isolation,” he said.

Police inquiries into how Kody died are continuing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.