One man missing, second person receiving medical treatment after swimmers get into trouble at Piha last night

Rescue teams at Piha Beach. Photo / Sam Graham

A man was last night missing, and a second person receiving medical treatment, after a visit to West Auckland's Piha Beach went horribly wrong.

The adult male disappeared while swimming, prompting a large search by emergency services just after 6pm.

A police spokesperson told the Herald on Sunday last night a second swimmer had been "located".

St John Ambulance were last night on their way to the scene, and the person was being treated by surf lifesavers ahead of their arrival.

As well as surf lifesavers, the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Northern Coastguard were involved in the search.

The latter tweeted that their Auckland Air Patrol were searching for the missing swimmer west of Lion Rock.

Fine weather lured beach goers were to the surf and sand yesterday, but conditions beyond the water's edge were less inviting.

The police spokesman said there was a light southerly breeze and good visibility, but waves were 2.5 to 3 metres and the tide was going out as searching continued.

Adey's Place staff member Shane Kraus the beach was packed, but conditions were "messy".

"The waves are breaking out pretty far and there's a lot of water moving around, a lot of rips."