A much-loved antiques dealer who vanished after a Christmas Day swim in Devon heroically turned back to save a woman in distress before being swept away by a powerful wave, a close friend has revealed.
A Fatal Turn Back to Help
Matthew Upham, 63, is now feared to have drowned after entering the water for a traditional festive dip off the coast at Budleigh Salterton. He and another man, aged in his 40s, remain missing after several other swimmers were pulled to safety by rescuers.
Mr Upham had joined dozens of others on the beach on Christmas morning, some wearing Santa hats, for the annual cold-water plunge. However, within seconds, participants found themselves in serious trouble due to massive swells driven by high winds.
Tragically, the 63-year-old had nearly made it back to shore when he spotted a woman struggling beyond the surf line. A friend of thirty years told the Mail on Sunday: ‘Matthew swam back out to reach her but as he did so a huge wave crashed into him and dragged him under. He hasn’t been seen since.’
An Exceptionally Selfless Character
The friend emphasised Mr Upham's character and local knowledge. ‘He was an exceptionally fit man who swam those waters practically every day,’ they said. ‘But more than that, he was an incredibly selfless person. So when he saw that woman in distress, there was only going to be one outcome.’
‘From what I’ve been told, he’d actually made it out of danger initially and was about to reach the beach but turned back. His friends watched him go out to her but the wave was so strong it just dragged him along. The woman eventually made it back to shore but Matthew is still missing.’
Initial reports had suggested the second missing man may have gone to Mr Upham's aid, but the friend stated that those with Matthew did not witness this, though someone may have tried to help further down the beach.
Family Tributes and Emergency Response
Mr Upham's family paid tribute on Boxing Day via the Instagram account of his Budleigh Salterton antique shop, which specialised in chandeliers after he relocated from Fulham. His nephew, Major Harley Upham, wrote: 'Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved family member.'
The statement expressed profound gratitude to the emergency services, particularly the RNLI and coastguard, for their ‘tireless efforts’. A single yellow rose was later left on the doorstep of his store.
Emergency services were called at 10.25am on Christmas Day. A lifeboat, which was on an exercise, immediately responded alongside Exmouth and Beer Coastguard rescue teams and a police helicopter. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed several swimmers were helped ashore and taken to hospital as a precaution.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Chaos
Horrifying new details emerged, including an account of two distressed children being consoled by Coastguard members. An eyewitness described a teenage boy and his younger sister, both pale and in shock, in the aftermath.
Another swimmer, Mike Brown, was rescued with blood pouring down his face. He told the BBC the conditions were ‘some of the worst I've ever tried to swim in’ and described how two local men risked their own safety to drag him from the six-foot waves.
According to witnesses, some swimmers may have entered the sea after spotting the lifeboat, potentially believing the informal event was supervised. The RNLI confirmed the lifeboat was on exercise but responded immediately when people got into difficulty.
Devon and Cornwall Police said searches and enquiries to locate the two missing men are ongoing.
