The whānau of the boy swept away in the Abbey Caves is at Whāngarei Hospital processing the loss of their son.

The student's body was found late last night after being swept away on a Whangarei Boys High School caving trip, when thunderstorms hit the area.

Whānau gathered late into the night hoping for the return of their son, as police used specialist diving equipment to search for him.

Hapū kaikōrero Hūhana Lyndon was there just after the boy was sadly pulled out of the cave.