Teenager who drowned in Hawkesbury River identified

The 16-year-old teenage boy who died while swimming in the Hawkesbury River on Wednesday has been identified.

Ryan Bibby, 16, the teenager who died while swimming in the Hawkesbury River at Windsor.

A caring boy who drowned in the Hawkesbury River on Wednesday was a horse-lover and “huge racing fan”.

Ryan Bibby, 16, died after swimming with friends who were forced to make the heartbreaking call to police when they could not find him in the water.

The teen was reported missing about midday from a stretch of the river in Windsor where numerous drownings have occurred in the past.

His body was found four hours later after an extensive search on land, water and in the air.

Family and friends paid tribute yesterday to the Year 12 Rouse Hill High School student with friends writing on social media: “Ryan Wayne Bibby, gone way too young’.

Ryan Bibby, 16, the teenager who drowned while swimming in the Hawkesbury River at Windsor.

“A huge racing fan and a lover of So You Think,” another wrote.

Ryan inherited his love for racing from his uncle who works at Coolmore stud in the Hunter and was very young when he becamea fan of the Bart Cummings trained dual Cox Plate winner So You Think.

School principal Kim Chapman wrote to Ryan’s schoolmates and offered support to his family.

“I have to give you some very sad news about the tragic passing yesterday of Ryan Bibby, one of our Year 12 students,” she wrote.

“Ryan’s family has given permission for us to identify him ... on behalf of the school community, I offer our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to Ryan’s family and friends for their immense loss.

“Students and staff were told this morning about Ryan’s passing, along with the availability of counselling and wellbeing support to help them during this difficult time.”

Ryan was known as a caring boy who would comfort new employees at North Kellyville McDonalds where he worked.

The Hawkesbury was the site of the most river drownings in NSW with 15, and fifth overall in the country, in the 10 years to June 2015, according to Royal Life Saving.

A man in his 30s drowned in the river in August.