Two men are missing in the water off Budleigh Salterton in Devon after emergency services were called to reports of people in difficulty on Christmas Day.
Devon and Cornwall Police received reports at 10:25am. Several people were brought safely to shore, with two checked by paramedics and one taken to hospital as a precaution. The missing men are aged in their 40s and 60s.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said: “As dark falls, a number of these searches have been stood down, with some police enquiries on land continuing this evening. There have been weather warnings in place this week and a number of official and unofficial swims have already been cancelled.”
The coastguard search was stood down at 5pm. A spokesperson said: “Alerted at around 10am, Exmouth and Beer coastguard rescue teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay, coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were sent to the scene.”
The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for wind on Christmas Day, with gusts of 45-55mph, reaching 55-65mph on exposed coasts. Large waves were an additional hazard.
Anyone with information should contact Devon and Cornwall Police on 101, quoting log number 191 of 25 December.
