Missing Christchurch man presumed drowned

New Brighton beach, Christchurch. Photo / Getty Images

An intoxicated man who walked into the sea at a Christchurch beach fully clothed this morning is missing and presumed drowned.

A local man in his 40s was seen by beachgoers walking into the surf at New Brighton beach wearing long pants and a t-shirt. Police and surf lifesavers were called after he went missing at about 10.30am.

The Westpac rescue helicopter and 6 IRB surfboats were used in the search. Police said the man "appeared intoxicated".

Police search co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Paul Manhire said the man left two cell phones, a lighter and an empty bottle of wine on the beach.

South Island Surf Life Saving regional manager Scotty Roberts said the search, which had become a body recovery operation, had to be called off at 1.30pm because of bad weather.

"From this afternoon we have just been doing visual search on the beach...the surf's conditions have turned and as such it's just not safe to have the guys out in the water."

Mr Roberts said members of the public tried to rescue the man after they saw him in trouble.

"They weren't able to get close enough, and he went under the waves and never came back up." Five surf clubs, the coastguard and Westpac rescue helicopter conducted a thorough search until just after 1pm, but the search was considered a body recovery after a couple of hours.

The official search will resume tomorrow morning, Mr Roberts said.