A search has been called off for two people presumed dead on a Christmas Day swim. Emergency services were called at 10.25am yesterday to the beach at Budleigh Salterton in Devon following concern for people in the water.
Devon and Cornwall Police said a number of people were safely recovered to shore and checked by paramedics. However, two men remain missing, and the Coastguard and RNLI have now concluded their searches at the scene. Police said the men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were not located during the search and remain missing at this time. Their families have been informed of the developments.
Extensive area searches were conducted throughout yesterday in an effort to locate them.
In a statement last night, 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.
“The local community will have seen a significant amount of emergency services in the area throughout the day as extensive enquiries have been ongoing. 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. 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.”
Devon and Cornwall Police added: “‘A significant amount of emergency service personnel were deployed to the incident and we ask that people do not enter the water for public safety reasons – due to the current weather warnings we ask that this is this is the case today and for any Boxing Day swims.
”Anyone with any relevant information which may assist police, who hasn’t already spoken to us, is asked to call 101 or report via our website quoting log 191 of 25/12/25.”
HM Coastguard said it was alerted at around 10am. Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth and Torbay and coastguard search and rescue helicopters were sent to the scene to assist, alongside police and ambulance service.
Hundreds of people were seen gathering at Exmouth and Budleigh beaches for unofficial Christmas Day swims.
Earlier, Devon and Cornwall Police had urged people to stay out of the sea due to ‘an incident in the water’.
The force said: “Please do not enter the water and avoid the area.
“We are also urgently asking the public not enter the water at Exmouth for the Christmas day swim while emergency services are committed with this incident.
A weather warning was in place in Devon for wind and stated that it was likely some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities would be affected by spray and/or large waves.
