The body of a man believed to be that of a swimmer reported missing last week has been found near Esperance.

The grim discovery was made on Tuesday afternoon, five days after the 21-year-old was last seen.

The man had been swimming with friends at Twilight Beach last Thursday when he was swept into the ocean.

Unable to get back to land, the man was thrown a life preserver, but was taken further out to sea by the swell.

Police, SES and volunteer marine rescue and Esperance Surf Life Saving Club responded and started a search shortly after.

The Esperance community has been hit hard over the past week, with a shark attack killing a man off Cull Island on Sunday afternoon.

Twilight Beach is currently closed to the public, with a warning in place after two 3.5m white sharks were spotted in the area.