Emergency service personnel were called to Crescent Head about 2pm after the youth suffered severe head injuries when he fell 10-12 metres from a cliff.

A Kempsey police officer and another man performed CPR until paramedics arrived but the Crescent Head boy (originally from Sydney) was unable to be revived and he died at the scene.

Due to deteriorating weather conditions and a rising tide, the body was unable to be brought to the top of the cliff before darkness fell.

A police guard was posted on the cliff-top overnight before this morning's retrieval operation.

At 6am yesterday, Kempsey Police coordinated the retrieval of the body with Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club (in an inflatable rubber ducky), and Kempsey State Emergency Services.

The body was taken to Kempsey District Hospital where the youth was pronounced dead.

Family members are still yet to be notified.