A major emergency response was launched on Christmas Day after reports of people in difficulty in the sea off a Devon beach, with two men now believed to be missing.
Major Emergency Response on Christmas Morning
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10:25am on Thursday, 25 December following serious concerns for individuals in the water. A significant multi-agency operation swiftly unfolded along the coast.
HM Coastguard was first alerted to the incident at around 10am. In response, they coordinated a large-scale search and rescue mission involving Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, alongside RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Torbay. Coastguard search and rescue helicopters were also deployed to the scene, working alongside police and ambulance crews.
Search Continues for Missing Men
While a number of people were successfully recovered from the water and brought safely to shore, two men remain unaccounted for. Those rescued were checked by paramedics at the scene, with some taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
A police spokeswoman stated: “Two men remain missing at this time and searches and enquiries are ongoing in efforts to locate them.” Officers have informed the next of kin of one man and are working to contact the family of the second, having already spoken to a local friend.
Public Urged to Avoid Water Amid Severe Warnings
The incident occurred on a day marked by challenging sea conditions. The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for wind across parts of southwest England and Wales, active from 4am until 11:59pm on Christmas Day.
The forecast warned of strong easterly gusts of 45-65mph, potential transport disruption, and specifically highlighted that “large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts.” This severe weather led to the cancellation of several planned Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall.
In light of the ongoing search and dangerous conditions, police issued a direct appeal to the public: “We ask that people do not enter the water for public safety reasons – due to the current weather warnings we ask that this is the case today and for any Boxing Day swims.”
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police on 101 or via their website, quoting log number 191 of 25 December.
