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THE devastated family of a Noosaville boy struck by a speedboat face a heartbreaking farewell later this week after his body was recovered by police divers.

The family packed up their campsite beside the idyllic Tinana Creek in Maryborough about noon yesterday, just hours after police divers found the body of the eight-year-old boy.

Police Sergeant Tony McCarthy said divers found the boy's body at 9am yesterday close to where the tragedy happened.

The boy was paddling on a surfboard on a property off Nerada Road about 11am on Sunday when one of two boats travelling upstream hit him and he failed to resurface.

A search began immediately and police divers arrived from Brisbane at 6pm. After abandoning the search late Sunday night, police divers resumed at 7am yesterday, narrowing the search area to about 100 square metres.

The Noosaville family was among a group of families camping on the property that was recently bought by the Gunn family of Maryborough. The boy, whose name has not been released, had two brothers, aged 12 and 10, and a sister aged two.

Maryborough District acting superintendent Daryl Powell said there was zero visibility when divers began their search of the muddy waters late Sunday.

“It was an extremely tragic accident that's every parent's worst nightmare,” Insp Powell said. “How it happened will be a matter for investigation.”

The driver of the speedboat which hit the boy was not associated with the boy or his family but he was known to Maryborough MP Chris Foley. “I've known him all his life...he's totally devastated,” Mr Foley said.

Mr Foley, a pastor from the Grace Community Church, and his wife Glenys were on hand yesterday to comfort the boy's family and friends and liaise with police.

The Foleys lost their three-year-old son Joshua in a traffic accident in 1994.

“It's a tragedy when anyone is killed but, when it's a child, it's even worse,” Mr Foley said.

“We offer our deepest sympathy and best wishes to the family, friends and all involved. What could have been an idyllic weekend ended in a terrible tragedy.”

Mr Foley said the two boats were travelling upstream about 11am on Sunday, one towing a skier who was being filmed from the second boat.

Mr Foley will conduct the funeral service in Noosaville either Friday or Saturday.