Emergency services, including volunteers in the Westpac search helicopter, are scouring an area off Table Top Reserve.

The 24-year-old Bhutanese national was last seen in the water in darkness about 10pm last night.

He was with two people – either friends, family members, or both – when he went missing. 

Friends and family remain on the scene.

Detective Inspector Winston Woodward said the matter was still being treated as a rescue, not a recovery.

“I always hold out hope for people,” he said.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve searched for people missing out on the water.

“People have managed to make it to the shore before.

“You could walk for a couple of kilometres before hitting the road.

“It’s not known if this man is suffering from any other type of medical condition.

“It’s not known if if he could be passed out on a river bank.

“I think there’s always a need to hold out hope in these circumstances.”

Emergency workers had searched the area late last night before resuming the operation this morning.