Emergency services are hunting for a man who fell into the ocean at Chapman Point in Esperance. File image. Source: Supplied

Esperance police Senior Sergeant Richard Moore said victim was a 27-year-old man from Perth who was swept off rocks as he took a photo of Blue Haven Beach on Friday afternoon.

His two friends threw life-preserving “angel rings” to him but he was unable to reach them as 6m waves pounded him against rocks.

A search by four boat crews, a helicopter, shore patrols and a surf life saving jet ski crew have found no trace of the man as large seas hamper the recovery effort.

Sen-Sgt Moore said the victim’s parents in Perth were devastated at the tragic accident and his brother and sister were heading to the south coast town as the recovery effort continued.

The search area after a man fell into the ocean at Chapman Point. Image: Supplied Source: Supplied

Police divers are also heading to Esperance and will enter the water Sunday morning to continue the search, if the body is not found earlier.

“If you’re not used to those conditions, keep off the rocks. It’s a magnificent coastline and we all want that one photograph but it’s not worth risking your life for,” Sen-Sgt Moore said.

He said Esperance had been hit hard by the tragic incident.

“You lose a life and it’s a small community with volunteers who help in the recovery effort. It affects the whole community,” he said.