A man has died after being swept out to sea at Seadown, north of Timaru, on Saturday afternoon.
Emergency services rescued a child from the water after being called to the beach at 4:30pm.
The child was treated by ambulance staff.
Due to the dangerous conditions, a helicopter was deployed in the search for the man.
Police said the man had already died when he was found a short time later.
The death will be referred to the Coroner.
RNZ