The search for an English tourist who went missing while swimming at a northern Sydney beach was continuing on Sunday.



The 31-year-old man went for a swim at South Curl Curl beach about 7pm on Saturday after fishing nearby with his friends, who raised the alarm when he did not return.



Boats and jetskis were launched on Sunday morning as foot patrols continued, and a police spokeswoman said helicopters would possibly join the search later.

The man had been celebrating with friends at the beach on his last day before he was due to fly out.

Police believe he is from Manchester, England, and had only been in Australia for a week.



A police spokeswoman said they had been in contact with the man’s family in Britain.

Conditions on Saturday evening were not particularly rough, Donna Wishart from Surf Life Saving New South Wales said, but the area was known for its dangerous rip currents.

“The south end of Curl Curl beach often has strong rip currents,” she said, “and that can carry people around to the rocky headlands. It is one of the more hazardous beaches in the area. The water gets deep very quickly.”

The man’s friends say they lost sight of him when he was about 100m from shore and raised the alarm about 7pm on Saturday, telling police he was not a strong swimmer.



They waited in the surf club overnight as local police, Polair, water police, Surf Rescue New South Wales and the Lifesaver rescue helicopter searched for the man but found no sign of him.



North and South Curl Curl beaches were closed on Sunday as police divers joined the operation in choppy seas, along with searchers on two jet skis, in three rubber duckies and the police launch.



Police said it was possible the missing man made it out of the surf and officers were searching the streets.