Emergency services continue search for man who went missing while swimming at Byron Bay beach on Wednesday

The search for a man who disappeared at a Byron beach two days ago has continued on Friday morning as emergency services reach out to the family of the missing swimmer.

The search for a swimmer who disappeared at a Byron Bay beach two days ago has continued on Friday morning as emergency services reach out to the family of the missing man.

Tweed/Byron Police officers were told the man was seen struggling in the surf about 30m offshore of Main Beach in Byron Bay about 5.30pm on Wednesday.

A massive search has involved NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW, Fire and Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue and Queensland Police’s POLAIR helicopter.

The Queensland Police POLAIR chopper is helping in the search. Picture: Richard Walker

The man has been identified because friends made a missing persons report, it’s understood.

It’s understood authorities may be forced to stand down and end the search late on Friday if the man is not found.

Personal items were found unclaimed at the beach after the man vanished.

A 22-year-old man tried his best to help the swimmer, but he was overwhelmed by rough conditions.

On Thursday, Surf Life Saving’s Byron lifeguard supervisor Steve Mills said emergency services had been combing waters off Byron since first light.

Signs warning of dangerous surf conditions at Main Beach, Byron Bay in a file photo. Picture: Cathy Adams

He did not offer an optimistic view on how the situation would resolve.

“It‘s hard to say if the body will be found today because with that amount of time gone, it could have drifted further out to sea,” he said.

“There were strong northerly winds yesterday so the beach was really choppy.

“There might have been a rip where he was swimming.”

Main Beach at Byron Bay.

A pair of visitors from Christchurch in New Zealand, Tony and Maria Burns, said Byron beaches have been quite rough.

She said it was “dark, grey and bubbly”, while Mr Burns said “it was hard to see anyone in the water (on Wednesday)” and “there was an air of concern” amid the “really bad conditions”.

Emergency services are still searching for the missing man.

Anyone with more information should phone Byron police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The disappearance has occurred during a horror summer on Australia’s shores.

It has included the tragic drowning of a dad trying to rescue his daughter she was swept out in the surf amid a “perfect storm” of “unforgiving” conditions at Lennox Head.

There has been 90 drowning deaths reported in the country this summer as of February 28, according to Royal Lifesaving Australia.

Main Beach, Byron Bay on Thursday morning.