Kate Bush has expressed her profound sorrow after her friend, Matthew Upham, went missing during a Christmas Day swim in Devon. The 67-year-old singer described Upham, a 63-year-old antiques dealer, as one of her “very dearest friends” and said she was “heartbroken” by his disappearance.
Upham was among several swimmers who got into difficulty in stormy waters off Budleigh Salterton on Christmas morning. While many were rescued and treated for cold water shock, two men—Upham and a man in his forties—remain missing. A large-scale rescue operation involving the RNLI and coastguard was stood down on Christmas Day evening after extensive searches.
In a statement on her website, Bush wrote: “Matthew was one of my very dearest friends. I’d known him for 30 years. He was one of those people who touched everyone he met. He was extraordinarily kind, thoughtful and lived life to the full. He was also a great deal of fun.”
According to reports, Upham had tried to save a woman in distress before being swept away. Bush noted he was a strong swimmer who understood the sea should be respected. His family, in a statement on Instagram, said they were “heartbroken by the loss” and thanked emergency services for their efforts.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed inquiries are ongoing. Several Christmas and Boxing Day swims in the region were cancelled due to a yellow weather warning for wind. East Devon District Council urged the public to “think twice before taking the plunge” due to cold water shock and strong currents.
