The family of Matthew Upham, one of two men missing after a Christmas Day swim in Devon, has paid tribute to him, describing him as “deeply loved and forever missed”. The 40-year-old antiques dealer from Budleigh Salterton vanished along with a 60-year-old man off the town’s coast.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton beach at 10.25am on Christmas Day after concerns were raised for people in the water. Several swimmers were brought safely to shore, but the two men could not be found. Two people were checked by paramedics, and one was taken to hospital as a precaution.
In a statement posted on Upham’s Instagram account, his family expressed their heartbreak and thanked the emergency services, particularly the RNLI and coastguard, for their “dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts”. They asked for privacy as they grieve.
The coastguard stood down its search at 5pm on Christmas Day after extensive shoreline and offshore searches. Police said onshore inquiries continued into the evening. On Boxing Day, both men remained missing, and police urged the public not to enter the water, noting that some sea swims had been cancelled due to weather conditions.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar of Devon and Cornwall Police described the incident as “truly tragic” and urged anyone planning to swim on Boxing Day to avoid doing so. Witness Julia Robb said the sea was “very cold and windy” with waves of at least 6ft, and the community was in shock.
