A man has died while swimming at a beach off the New South Wales south coast.

Authorities found the body of the man, believed to have been aged in his 20s, at Werri Beach just after 5pm on Sunday. 

A multi-agency search effort was underway at the time for the man, who was reported missing when he failed to return from a swim about 3:20pm.

Surf Life Saving NSW duty officer Shane Wicks said patrols noticed the man was caught in a rip but were unable to reach him before he “disappeared from sight”.

“The patrol initiated a search of the area, which expanded quickly,” he said.

“Some dye was dropped [in the water] to follow some currents, which assisted the lifesavers in locating [the man].”

An emergency vehicle with police officers.

A multi-agency search was conducted on Sunday afternoon. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)

Emergency service personnel were unable to revive the man after locating his body at the beach, south of Kiama. 

Mr Wicks said conditions were “tricky” in the water on Sunday afternoon, and the man from south-west Sydney was visiting the beach with a group of friends. 

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Extensive search 

NSW Police officers and water police crews, alongside ambulance paramedics and Surf Life Saving NSW (SLS) were involved in the search efforts on Sunday afternoon. 

A helicopter was also deployed to assist with the search on the currently patrolled Werri Beach.

Mr Wicks said about 30 SLS volunteers assisted across the afternoon. 

“It’s going to have a massive effect on them,” he said. 

“We are a tight club, so they will rally around each other.”A group of people speaking to an ambulance worker, on a residential street.

A group of bystanders speaking with authorities on Sunday afternoon. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)

Mr Wicks said the man was swimming 50 metres outside the flags on the southern end of the beach at the time.

“We always ask, go to a flagged area. Swim between the flags,” he said.

He urged members of the public to take time to assess the conditions before swimming. 

“Most lifesavers and surfers look at the water for at least five minutes before they go in,” Mr Wicks said.

“Stop, look, and stay alive.”

It comes less than a week after a married couple from the United Kingdom drowned at Shellharbour Beach South, 20 kilometres north of Werri Beach.