A tragedy has unfolded as a young girl’s body has been located hours after her father was found dead and a small boat adrift in Sydney’s inner west.

The body of a man, believed to be in his 40s, was found in the water near Hen and Chicken Bay at Abbotsford about 11.45am on Saturday.

Superintendent Christine McDonald said earlier the man, from the Westmead area, had hired the vessel and was onboard with his daughter.

After extensive search efforts on Saturday afternoon, the girl, believed to be aged six or seven, was located.

7NEWS understands divers near Abbotsford made the tragic discovery.

Forensic officers are on the way to the scene.

“Both are yet to be formally identified; however, information provided indicates the man is in his 40s, while the girl is believed to be aged six or seven,” NSW Police said in a statement on Saturday evening.

A major search operation was launched for the young girl.A major search operation was launched for the young girl. Credit: 7NEWS The man had hired a vessel and was onboard with his daughter.The man had hired a vessel and was onboard with his daughter. Credit: 7NEWS

Emergency services had rushed to Bayview Park on Burwood Rd at Concord after a passer-by aboard a vessel spotted the man’s body and raised the alarm.

The boater then helped police reach the man and retrieve him from the water before returning him to the empty vessel.

Mammoth search efforts were then launched before the tragic discovery was made.

“Officers are providing support to the child’s mother, as inquiries continue,” police said in a statement.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Burwood police or Crime Stoppers.

SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/desperate-search-for-young-girl-after-man-found-dead-and-boat-adrift-in-sydney-c-22426307