The family of Matthew Upham, one of two men missing after a Christmas Day swim off Budleigh Salterton in Devon, has paid tribute to him, describing him as 'deeply loved and forever missed'. The 40-year-old antiques dealer from the town was reported missing along with a second man in his 60s after emergency services were called to the beach at 10.25am on Christmas Day.
Several people were brought safely to shore, but the two men could not be found. Two of those rescued were checked by paramedics, and one was taken to hospital as a precaution. The coastguard stood down its search at 5pm on Christmas Day, but police said onshore inquiries continued into the evening.
In a statement 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.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar of Devon and Cornwall Police described the incident as 'truly tragic' and urged the public not to enter the sea, noting that several swims had been cancelled due to weather warnings. A resident who witnessed the scene described the conditions as 'very cold and windy' with waves of at least 6ft.
On Boxing Day, police confirmed both men were still missing and that inquiries were ongoing. The families of the men have been informed.
