Searchers are looking for a man who went for a swim at a Nelson beach but apparently failed to return.
Members of the public reported the man missing to police after he entered the water at Tahunanui Beach about 7.10pm.
Police spokeswoman Barbara Dunn said it was not clear at this stage whether the man had left the water elsewhere and failed to pick up his belongings.
The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club, Coastguard and Harbourmaster were searching for the man on the water. A rescue helicopter was also helping with an aerial search.
Ms Dunn said the missing man was wearing board shorts and sunglasses, and left his jandals on the beach. He was described as a roughly 1.82m-tall Caucasian with dark spiky hair.
