A man swept off 10-metre-high cliffs at a notorious fishing spot near Carnarvon failed to secure himself to anchor points installed at the site to try to avoid fatal accidents, marine rescuers have said.
The 28-year-old man — a Taiwanese national — was fishing with four friends when he was swept off the cliff just after midday on Sunday at High Rock, almost two kilometres south of Quobba Station.
Witnesses saw the man in the ocean for a short time but were unable to save him, police said.
A search by the Carnarvon Sea Rescue Group also failed to find any trace of him.
A spokesman for the rescue group, Noel Gaitskell, said the cliff was a notorious fishing spot, and devices installed at the spot were designed to avoid such a tragedy.
"Where he was, there is actually anchor points that people can actually tie themselves down," he said.
"He failed to do it.
"He would have had his back to the water and the waves would have come straight over the top and taken him out.
"You are never safe on a rock when there is a big swell because the unexpected always happens."
Another search involving two boats has resumed this morning, but has been hampered by strong winds and rough seas.
A plane was expected to begin searching by air but had been unable to do so.
Police said State Emergency Service personnel were searching the coastline.
