Police say an 18-year-old Newcastle man who fell to his death while apparently train surfing is the son of a former National Basketball League (NBL) player.

The body of Griffin Hays was found near a freight line at Mayfield in the New South Wales Hunter Valley yesterday morning.

Police believe he lost his footing while trying to get off a rail wagon, after surfing the train.

Griffin Hays' father, Butch was a star player for the former NBL club, the Newcastle Falcons, in the 1990s.

In recent years he played and coached the Maitland Mustangs in the Australian Basketball League.

Griffin Hays and his sister Roberta have also played for Maitland and the club's general manager, Leon Bendeich, says the family will be given plenty of support.

He says the death is a tragedy.

"Butch and Griffin and Roberta were all very well known within our club and admired, respected and liked and happy people and good company to be with and it's just pretty much rocked us to our socks," he said.

"Being a team sport you generate lots of friends and associates during the course of your career and those that you can fall back on in times like this and Butch, Roberta will be comforted through this by any number of friends and associates within the club."

Police are liaising with the Australian Rail Track Corporation as well as other rail stakeholders involved.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.