A Marine Rescue Port Macquarie boat and crew made the discovery between Port Plomer and Port Macquarie “a couple of kilometres offshore”.

The man is yet to be identified.

Friday 1.40pm: The search for the man suspected to have been washed out to sea continues with a mass coordinated response by the emergency services.

The search, being led by Coffs Harbour Water Police, involves two boats and a jet ski from Port Macquarie Marine Rescue, a boat from Marine Rescue Camden Haven, three boats and two jet skis from the Flynns Beach Surf Life Saving Club and eight SES members who have searched the shoreline and continue to cover beaches as far as Point Plomer.

Five helicopters will soon begin a sweep from Point Plomer as far south as Lake Cathie.

The search will continue today and police divers are on standby and will begin a search at 9am Saturday if needed.

Friday 11.15am: Emergency services are focusing on a 63 square nautical mile area, seven nautical miles out to sea and covering the area from Point Plomer north to Lighthouse Beach in the south.

Multiple witnesses saw and heard the incident last night, Port Macquarie police duty officer Paul Fuller said.

"One person jumped in the water at the breakwall to assist but that person but began to struggle against the water and had to return to shore."

Inspector Fuller also confirmed that an official missing person's report had not been made.

Friday 10am: There is still a high hope of finding the person alive who was reported to be seen struggling in the Hastings River last night.

Police, Marine Rescue, SES and Surf Lifesaving volunteers have been conducting a coordinated search since early this morning.

Mid-North Coast director of lifesaving, Ryan Rosenbaum said Surf Lifesaving had four boat crews and two jet skies searching the waterways.

SES members are searching the shoreline on foot, a helicopter is searching from the air with a second search and rescue helicopter on its way with a thermal imaging camera on board. It is expected to be in the area by 11am.

“The morale among our team is still high. There’s still very high hopes of finding this person alive,” Mr Rosenbaum said.

“The longer this search goes on for though the more hope will fade.”

Friday, 7am: Police and emergency services have been searching the Hastings River and surrounding areas at Port Macquarie following reports of a man in the water  on Thursday night.

About 10.55pm, a witness told police he saw a man in the river who was being taken out to sea by the current.

The witness jumped into the river to try and assist the man but could not locate him.

Police were called and a search involving local officers, Marine Rescue and the Westpac rescue helicopter was conducted for the man but searchers were unable to locate him.

The search was suspended at 1am and will re-commence at 7am Friday with additional resources.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the man on the river banks or in the water to contact them.

Anyone with information which could assist in identifying the man is urged to contact Port Macquarie police on (02) 6583 0199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.