Woman drowns, search for missing man being treated as 'recovery mission'

Police have combed eight kilometres of coastline in what is being treated as a "recovery mission" after a woman drowned and man went missing off a Gold Coast beach.

Jake Jacobs was reported missing on Thursday at Kurrawa Beach after being captured on CCTV going for a late night swim, never to return.

The 32-year-old is believed to be a UK national who resided on the Gold Coast and managed a local gym.

"We don't expect to find anybody alive," Queensland Police senior sergeant John Diggle said.

The man was with a 29-year-old woman from Victoria who drowned on Thursday night, after they were seen entering the water along Old Burleigh Road at about 9.20pm (local time).

The woman's body was found near Kurrawa Surf Club.

Paramedic's desperately tried to revive the woman, a Ukrainian national, after she was spotted on the sand by Christopher Shiba who was walking along the beach and called Triple-zero.

"It was a bit strange the way she was positioned on the beach near the water and that's when he went up to see if she was okay and she was unresponsive," Mr Shiba said.

Beaches remain closed from Burleigh to the Seaway as the search continues for the man tomorrow.

"Onshore conditions are really really dangerous - treacherous actually, and swimming at night is so fraught especially in these conditions," Chief Lifeguard Warren Young said.

Two water police have been injured during the mission after a wave hit their boat.

Queensland Police are urging anyone with information to contact them.

A report will be prepared for the coroner in relation to the woman.