The body of a swimmer who vanished during a Christmas Day dip has been recovered from the shoreline at Budleigh Salterton Beach in Exmouth, bringing a tragic conclusion to a weeks-long search operation.
Discovery of the Missing Swimmer
Devon and Cornwall Police were alerted on Tuesday morning after the man's body was spotted on the shore at approximately 8.45am. The individual, believed to be 47 years old, had been missing since Christmas Day when he went for a swim at the popular coastal spot.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his next-of-kin have been informed. Formal identification procedures are still pending as authorities continue their investigation into this distressing incident.
Ongoing Search for Second Swimmer
A second man, described as being in his 60s and from East Devon, remains missing following the same Christmas Day swimming incident. Both families have been notified and are receiving support from police during this difficult period.
Superintendent Ryan Doyle expressed the profound sadness surrounding the discovery, stating: "This discovery is very sad news following the upsetting and tragic incident on Christmas Day. We have spoken with his family and we are continuing to support them through this difficult time."
The families have requested privacy as they process this devastating loss, with police respecting their wishes while maintaining contact and support.
Challenging Search Conditions
The search operation has faced significant challenges since the swimmers disappeared. Multiple coastguard rescue teams from Exmouth and Beer participated in the effort, alongside RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay that attended on Boxing Day.
RNLI crews described sea conditions as "punishing" during their search efforts, highlighting the dangerous environment that rescue teams navigated while looking for the missing individuals.
Weather Impact on Christmas Swims
The tragic incident occurred during a period of challenging weather conditions. Last year, numerous planned Christmas and Boxing Day swims across Devon and Cornwall were cancelled due to a yellow weather warning for wind that affected parts of the southwest region.
This underscores the importance of heeding weather warnings and exercising caution when participating in open water swimming, particularly during winter months when conditions can change rapidly and become hazardous.
The community and emergency services continue to hold the families in their thoughts as the search for the second missing swimmer persists, though hopes diminish with each passing day.
