A man in distress has been pulled from the sea at Glenelg in Adelaide's western suburbs.

A passing officer from Glenelg police station was alerted about 1:10pm and waded into the water near the pier at the end of Jetty Road.

After she pulled the man to shore, the victim was treated by ambulance officers on the beach.

Someone on the beach took a photo of the rescue and sent it to police, praising the officer's good work.