Two men remain missing at sea following a Christmas Day swim at a beach in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Major Search Operation Launched
Emergency services were called to the Devon coast at 10.25am on Thursday, December 25 after reports that a group of people were in difficulty in the water. Hundreds had gathered for traditional festive swims at beaches in Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that while several individuals were "safely recovered" and assessed by paramedics, two men were believed to be missing. A significant multi-agency search was immediately initiated.
Resources Deployed and Search Called Off
The search involved Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Torbay, alongside coastguard search and rescue helicopters. Police and ambulance crews were also present on the scene.
The two missing men are aged in their 40s and 60s. Their families have been informed. As darkness fell, RNLI and coastguard crews stood down their searches for the day, with the men still missing.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar described the incident as "truly tragic".
Dangerous Sea Conditions and Official Warnings
Images from the scene showed lifeboats operating in very choppy waters. Phillip Stoneman, a BBC journalist familiar with the annual event, noted the sea was the roughest he had seen in years, with waves sweeping people off their feet as they exited.
The incident occurred despite several official and unofficial swims in Devon and Cornwall being cancelled due to a Met Office yellow weather warning for wind, active from 4am across South West England and Wales. The warning indicated gusts could reach 55 to 65mph on exposed coasts.
While no formal warnings are in place for Boxing Day, police are strongly urging the public not to go swimming in the sea on December 26th.
