An agonising search for a missing man who disappeared without a trace appears to have ended in tragedy with the discovery of a body at Sydney's Coogee beach.

Marin Luburic’s family raised the alarm when the 54-year-old failed to return home after saying he was going for a swim at Maroubra Beach on Saturday.

Police later discovered his car parked on Marine Parade, Maroubra and launched a full scale land and sea search of the area.

By Sunday night they had issued a GEO targeting SMS message to all local residents urging them to report any sightings.

“Police are searching for 54-year-old Marin “Max” Luburic, last seen in Newtown about 4pm yesterday, before saying he was going for a swim at Maroubra Beach,” they said in the text.

“Marin is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, 190cm tall with a shaved head and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing khaki shorts, a dark grey T-shirt and brown thongs. If seen, please call Triple Zero.”

Devastating beach find ends search for distraught family

On Wednesday night members of the public found a man's body at Coogee Beach four days after Marin went missing. Coogee Beach is about four kilometres north of Maroubra beach.

Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command were called to the scene at about 6.30pm. While the body is yet to be formally identified, police say they are liaising with Marin’s family.

“A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner,” NSW Police said.

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