Man drowns near St Kilda Pier

A man’s body was pulled from the water near St Kilda Pier on Wednesday night, as scores of people looked on.

A man’s body was pulled from the water off St Kilda beach on Wednesday night, after emergency services responded to reports of a person in distress.

Police and ambulance were called to St Kilda Pier about 8.25pm, where a large scale search for the man was launched.

A helicopter circles St Kilda Beach after a body was seen submerged in the water.

Sadly huge rescue efforts could not save the man.

Scores of people watched on as the man’s body was recovered.

The drowning is not being treated as suspicious.

Crowds gathered along the foreshore as rescuers attempted to locate his body.

Video footage of the scene shows a police helicopter scanning the area from above, while a boat was used to assist the search in the water.

Despite emergency services’ best efforts, the man – who is yet to be identified – was found dead.

At this stage, the drowning is not being treated as suspicious.