A man drowned at a beach in Port Elizabeth on Thursday afternoon, paramedics said.
"Reports from the scene are that the man was swimming in the rough sea by the dolloses near the lighthouse at the Burmar Road intersection when he ran into difficulty," said Netcare 911 spokesman Chris Botha.
"Netcare 911 paramedics and the National Sea Rescue Institute responded to the scene and when they arrived they were faced with rough seas and a gale force wind."
Although they could see the man, it took the "enormous skill" of the NSRI crew to get to the man.
"After he was pulled from the water resuscitation was immediately started to try and revive the unresponsive bather," said Botha.
"Tragically despite all the efforts the man was declared dead at the scene."
The drowning happened around 3.30pm.