A major coastguard search for two men who disappeared during a Christmas Day sea swim off the Devon coast has been officially called off.
Emergency Response to a Tragic Incident
Emergency services were alerted at 10.25am on Christmas Day following reports of people in difficulty in the water at Budleigh Salterton. A multi-agency operation swung into action, involving coastguard rescue teams from Exmouth and Beer, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Torbay, alongside coastguard helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, police, and ambulance crews.
While a number of individuals were successfully brought to shore, two men could not be located. The missing individuals are described as one man in his 40s and another in his 60s. Of those rescued, two received checks from paramedics and one was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Search Efforts Concluded as Families Informed
After extensive searches throughout the day, both offshore and along the shoreline, the coastguard stood down its part of the operation at 5pm. A spokesperson confirmed that the search for the two men believed to still be in the water had been concluded.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that onshore inquiries continued into the evening and that the men's families have been informed. Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar described the situation as a "truly tragic incident" and expressed that the force's thoughts were with the families and friends of the missing men, as well as any witnesses affected.
Warnings Issued for Boxing Day Swims
In the wake of the incident, police have issued a strong warning to the public. Despite no official weather warning being in place for Boxing Day, Det Supt Costar urged anyone planning a festive swim to reconsider. "We urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to," she stated.
This tragedy follows a week of weather warnings and led to the cancellation of several scheduled Christmas and Boxing Day swims across Devon and Cornwall. Flowers have since been left on the beach at Budleigh Salterton in a poignant tribute to the missing men.
