A major search and rescue operation for two men who disappeared during a Christmas Day sea swim has been officially stood down by the coastguard.
Extensive Search Fails to Locate Missing Men
HM Coastguard confirmed that its part of the extensive shoreline and offshore search was concluded at 5pm on Thursday. The operation was launched after emergency services were alerted to concerns for people in the water at Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day.
While a number of individuals were safely brought to shore and checked by paramedics—with some taken to hospital as a precaution—two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, could not be found. Devon and Cornwall Police have stated that the families of the missing men are being kept informed.
Witness Describes Treacherous Sea Conditions
Local resident Julia Robb, who had been watching swimmers before the incident, described the conditions as "very cold and windy" with large waves. "The waves were big, breaking over people and it was jolly," she said, estimating they "would have been at least 6ft."
Ms Robb only realised the severity of the situation when she later heard rescue helicopters. She expressed her sorrow for the affected families and the shock for the close-knit community, stating, "It was a sad thing to happen on what had been such a positive morning."
Multi-Agency Emergency Response Mobilised
The coastguard coordinated a significant response to reports of people in difficulty. Resources deployed included:
- Coastguard rescue teams from Exmouth and Beer.
- RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Torbay.
- Coastguard search and rescue helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft.
- Police and ambulance personnel.
RNLI lifeboat crews successfully helped recover one person from the water. All lifeboat crews were stood down by the coastguard around 5pm and returned to their stations.
An RNLI spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident and the family and friends of the two people who are missing."
Safety Warnings After Tragic Incident
The incident occurred despite a yellow weather warning for wind covering parts of the South West and Wales, which led to the cancellation of several scheduled Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall.
While no warnings were in place for Boxing Day, Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar issued a stern warning: "We urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to." She described the events as "a truly tragic incident" and reiterated that the force's thoughts remain with the families and friends of the missing men.
