t was like "waiting for a sledgehammer" blow as Daniel Morcombe's parents steeled themselves for the brutal truth about their son's fate.

His father, Bruce Morcombe, on Monday spoke of the family's anguish at learning human remains found in Sunshine Coast bushland were Daniel's.

DNA testing has confirmed three bones discovered in boggy bushland near Beerwah belonged to the 13-year-old, who went missing in 2003.

Mr Morcombe says the news, broken by Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, felt like an inevitable blow.

"It was very difficult," he told reporters at Maroochydore.

"It was something like waiting for the sledgehammer to hit you but when it does come it's still a shock."

Mr Morcombe said he was hesitant to describe the family's feeling as "closure", saying it was more like relief.

"We wrestle with finding the appropriate word and closure is one that Denise and myself and the family have never been enormously comfortable with," he said.

The discovery of two shoes, the same brand as Daniel's, and then three human bones, meant the DNA confirmation wasn't a big surprise, Mr Morcombe said.

"We just knew in our heart that it would be miraculous if it was not Daniel, as against the reality that it was," he said.

A distressed Mrs Morcombe earlier thanked the family's many supporters.

"I feel that Daniel is your son as well," she said.

"It's everyone's strength that has got us through the last seven-and-a-half years and will help us through the rest of it."

Mrs Morcombe said she had yet to make any firm funeral plans, but expressed the wish to wait for all of Daniel's remains to be recovered.

She said it was difficult to break the news to her other sons, Daniel's twin brother Bradley, 21, and Dean, 23.

"Just watching the boys' faces was heartbreaking really," Mrs Morcombe said.

"They just stood there and just stared."

Mr Morcombe said the family found more comfort in visiting the public memorial for Daniel, rather than the site where his remains were located.

"It's a very eerie place, it's certainly not a place anyone would want to go and visit out of their natural accord," he said.

Mrs Morcombe added: "It's more like hell."

Mr Atkinson said police were totally committed to continuing the difficult search for the rest of Daniel's remains, which has been suspended for a week due to bad weather.

Perth man Brett Peter Cowan, 41, has been charged with Daniel's murder and will appear in court again next month.

The development is also significant to Sunshine Coast residents who have been gripped by the eight-year mystery.

Maroochydore shop assistant Jade Mosley is a friend of Daniel's older brother Dean.

She said she phoned Dean on Sunday to see how he was feeling after the police announcement.

"He didn't say much and I didn't want to pry but he said he was glad it was coming to an end," Jade Mosley told AAP.

Buderim mother-of-two Louise Murawski expressed respect and admiration for Bruce and Denise Morcombe, who were relentless in the search for their son.

"The family really kept the spotlight on their missing son and after nearly eight years all that hard work comes to fruition," Ms Murawski said.

"I hope it has brought them some closure."




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