THE dismembered torso of a man has been found in a bag washed ashore at Kyeemagh, near Sydney Airport.

A group of about 15 people cleaning Lady Robinsons Beach, beside General Holmes Drive, made the gruesome discovery at 10.20am yesterday.

Inside the black zip-locked bag was a white sheet that police initially said contained ''organic material''. Forensic officers called to the scene later determined a torso was inside the bag, which also contained a rusty, circular weight.

Police divers were searching for more clues late yesterday.

''It's a male torso,'' St George police crime manager Detective Inspector Gary Ballard said. ''We don't know much else yet at this stage.''

Further examination would be conducted to determine the man's identity and just how long he had been in the water.

''We are getting examinations done at the moment to see what it is,'' a police spokesman said. ''Police have taken [the remains] to the morgue.''

The cleaners spent more than an hour talking to detectives at the scene.

Police also scoured the shoreline for several hours trying to find links to the discovery.

The bag was removed early yesterday afternoon. One onlooker said it took four police officers to lift it on to a stretcher.

crime@smh.com.au