But both were defeated by the dangerous river conditions.

Wagga police duty officer Inspector Peter Robertson said one of the men who attempted rescue was in the same group of Teys workers enjoying Christmas Day at the beach.

"He went into the river but realised he could not get out to his friend without getting into trouble himself," Inspector Robertson said.

"Another gentleman who was on the river bank when the two swimmers went past him tried to swim to him (the missing man).

"He got to within 30 metres, however he realised the current was too strong and he swam back to save himself."

Hanif Ansari, an Afghani who worked with the missing man at Teys, said that at first the missing man's friends thought he was joking when he cried out for help from the middle of the river.

"He was yelling out for help," Mr Ansari said.

"We thought he was joking, just playing, and then it was too late, unfortunately," Mr Ansari said.

"He went under and then he came up, he came up twice and the third time he disappeared."

Mr Ansari said none of the people with the missing man were good swimmers.

"The river is so fast, and we can't swim in this very fast river," Mr Ansari said.

"It is very hard, even for a good swimmer.

"No one was a strong swimmer to save him.

"His friends said he did not know swimming at all."

Mr Ansari said he met the other man who tried to save missing man Ali at the beach last week.

He said he knew the man as "Freedom" and he had an English accent and a dog.

"He dived in the river and tried to tell Ali to come close to him," Mr Ansari said.

"But Ali at that time did not know what to do."