Johannesburg - A man has gone missing at sea in Merebank, Durban on Thursday, LifeSaving SA said.
"The 25-year-old man from Johannesburg was at the non-swimming beach with friends when he was caught in a rip current," the organisation said in a statement.
"The man struggled against the current, then tragically lost his bodyboard. His body disappeared below the surface before the rescue services arrived on the scene."
A search by lifeguards was unsuccessful in locating the man. The search would continue on Friday, LifeSaving SA said.
The Cutting beach, where the incident happened, has a clear signpost that showed the beach is not protected by Lifeguards, it said.
The organisation urged holidaymakers not to swim in an area not protected by lifeguards.