Emergency services are searching for a man believed to have been swept out to sea near Timaru.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand said police are dealing with the situation.

A police spokeswoman said they received a report at 4.30 pm that a man had been swept out in the current at the beach at Seadown, near Beach Road.

She said police are responding, along with Fire and Emergency crew, ambulance and Coastguard.

It’s understood one other person has been rescued.

A helicopter is part of the search efforts.