The man,
who was spotted discarding his clothes on Walmer Beach, Kent, by a
couple out walking, says he was swimming strongly before he
disappeared about a mile out to sea.
The swimmers clothes were left on the beach at around 3pm. Police
searched them, but found nothing in them to identify the man.
A Coastguard spokesman says there is a possibility that the man
was trying to commit suicide.
"We don't know if he is dead or not," he says.
"There is a cause for concern that he might have wanted to kill
himself. While it is light, we will continue the search.
"His clothes are still on the beach and he was seen by a
woman and man walking swimming strongly out to sea and he did not
come back."
A Kent Police spokesman says they have not been able to identify
the missing man.
