Nambucca Local Area Command's Sergeant Anthony Smith said they are still communicating with the Polish consulate in an effort to contact the man's family.

He said they believe the man was working on a farm in Manilla, 50km northwest of Tamworth, and had been meeting up with friends in the Nambucca Valley over the weekend.

The 20-something-year-old man was swimming with the group of friends at Swimming Creek Beach in Nambucca Heads yesterday when he got into trouble.

"It was indicated to us that when his friends exited the water, that was when they noticed him in distress, face down in the waves. They then called emergency services," Sgt Smith said.

Members of the Nambucca Heads Surf Life Saving Club and Surf Life Saving NSW Support Operations team began searching for the man using jet skis and inflatable rubber boats shortly after 3pm.

A call was put out for a rescue helicopter and a drone to help in the search, but he was discovered soon after - at around 4pm - washed up about a kilometre north near Valla Beach.

Paramedics attempted CPR but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sgt Smith said there were weather warnings in place yesterday highlighting large and powerful seas.

"And there were indications that he was not a strong swimmer," Sgt Smith said.

In light of yesterday's tragic events, Sgt Smith reiterated that the public should take due care before swimming at unpatrolled beaches.

"Police would ask that people be mindful of their own swimming abilities, the prevailing weather conditions, and swim between the flags where possible," he said.

The brumby whisperer, and the family giving livestock a second lease on life