A festive tradition turned into a chilling tragedy as two swimmers remain missing at sea after a Christmas Day turned into a nightmare. Witnesses described the conditions as treacherous, with huge waves and strong winds battering the popular seafront at Budleigh Salterton, Devon. The incident unfolded as hundreds of swimmers, donning Santa hats, laughed and shouted as they raced to enter the sea. But the joy quickly turned to horror as emergency crews were scrambled to the scene at around 10.25 am, following concerns for swimmers in the water.
The Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had been canceled due to a yellow weather warning in place over the region. Despite the warnings, some swimmers still ventured into the water, with onlookers expressing shock and disbelief at the decision. One visitor, Melissa Hill, told MailOnline, "The coastguards have cordoned off part of the path where the swimmers set off from. They are overlooking the area where this happened. It is such an awful thing to have happened. The conditions are dreadful. The sea is cold. The wind is strong, and the waves are crashing in. I can’t believe anyone went into the water when it was like this."
The south-west region was battered by 65 mph winds, with a cold health alert also in place between 4 am and midnight. Met Office officials had warned of potential disruption to transport and power supplies in some areas. The coastguard's search efforts, involving helicopters and lifeboats, were stood down at around 5 pm, as the RNLI concluded its search. The two missing men, one in his 40s and the other in his 60s, remain at large, with relatives informed of the developments. The coastguard stated, "HM Coastguard responded to reports of people in difficulty in the water in the Budleigh Salterton area this morning. Alerted at around 10 am, Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Torbay, and coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were sent to the scene to assist, alongside police and ambulance services. Searches have continued throughout the day to find the two men believed to still be in the water. After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the coastguard part of the search was stood down at 5 pm."
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a number of people had been safely rescued by crews. The force stated, "Emergency services were called at 10.25 am to the beach at Budleigh Salterton following concern for people in the water. A number of people have been safely recovered to shore and will be checked by paramedics. Coastguard and RNLI crews are continuing search efforts in the water. There is a significant amount of emergency service personnel working on this incident. We ask that people do not enter the water along this stretch of coast while this incident is ongoing for public safety reasons."
This tragic incident highlights the importance of heeding weather warnings and taking necessary precautions when engaging in water activities, especially during festive celebrations.
