Two men remain missing in the sea off Budleigh Salterton, Devon, after emergency services responded to multiple swimmers in difficulty on Christmas Day. The coastguard stood down its search at 5 PM after extensive efforts failed to locate them.
Emergency services were alerted at approximately 10:25 AM on December 25 after reports of people struggling in the water. While several individuals were safely recovered to shore, two men - aged in their 40s and 60s - could not be found despite searches throughout the day.
One person was transported to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital by ambulance as a precaution. Two others received medical treatment at the scene and were discharged.
Massive rescue operation deployed
HM Coastguard coordinated a major response involving Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay, plus search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Police and ambulance services also attended.
«Searches have continued throughout the day to find two men believed to still be in the water,» a coastguard spokesperson said. «After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the coastguard part of the search was stood down at 5pm.»
Families informed as police inquiries continue
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they have contacted the next of kin of one missing man. Efforts to reach the family of the second man are ongoing, though a local friend has been informed.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said: «Today, emergency services have been responding to a truly tragic incident in Budleigh Salterton. Our thoughts remain firmly with the families and friends of the two men who are currently missing and to all who may have witnessed and be impacted by the incident.»
She added that as darkness fell, some searches were stood down, but police inquiries on land continued through the evening.
Urgent warning against Boxing Day swims
Police issued an urgent warning advising the public not to enter the sea on Boxing Day, despite no official weather warnings being scheduled for December 26.
«There have been weather warnings in place this week and a number of official and unofficial swims have already been cancelled,» Costar said. «While there are no official warnings in place for tomorrow, we urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to.»
Severe weather conditions
The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for wind across parts of south-west England and Wales, in effect from 4 AM until 11:59 PM on Christmas Day. The warning predicted «strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds» with peak gusts of 45-55 mph, potentially reaching 55-65 mph along exposed coasts.
«Large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts,» the Met Office warned, forecasting potential disruption to transport and power supplies.
Multiple Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled this year because of the severe weather conditions.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police by calling 101 or via their website, quoting log number 191 of December 25.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
