A search by police divers is continuing at Eastern Beach in East London for a young man who went missing in the surf late on Tuesday afternoon.
NSRI East London Station Commander Geoff McGregor says they responded to the scene along with Netcare 911 ambulance services, the SA Police Services and a Police K-9 Search and Rescue team.
McGregor says a Police officer, Constable Luthando Mdingi, who was off duty and on the beach for the day, saw the man being swept out to sea and swam out to try and rescue him.
However, he lost sight of the man in the gathering gloom of nightfall.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
The missing man has been identified as a 22 year old from Alice.
Meanwhile a warning has been issued of a New Moon Spring Tide to beach-goers around the country.
The New Moon Spring Tide will be in it's full intensity tomorrow and will gradually lessen towards next week Monday.
Spring Tides happen twice every month at full moon and at new moon, which bring higher than normal high tides and lower than normal low tides.
