How a joyful Christmas Day swim on Devon’s Jurassic coast led to tragedy with two swept out to sea

Bounding into the ocean to cheering crowds, dozens of swimmers at Budleigh Salterton hoped to get pleasure from a bracing chilly dip earlier than their Christmas lunch.

But the joyful annual custom quickly became a frantic rescue mission as individuals bought into issue in tough seas, which one resident described because the worst situations he had ever seen on the well-liked swimming spot on Devon’s idyllic Jurassic coast.

Two males, together with native antiques supplier Matthew Upham, who is alleged to be an skilled sea swimmer, are nonetheless lacking regardless of widespread searches by the coastguard and the RNLI.

Mr Upham’s heartbroken household have paid tribute to the 63-year-old, who they mentioned was “deeply loved and will be forever missed”.

They added: “We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the emergency services who responded, particularly the RNLI and coastguard, for their dedication, professionalism and tireless efforts during this extremely difficult time.

“We are profoundly grateful for their compassion and support.”

A single yellow rose was left on the doorstep of his antiques enterprise on Boxing Day, in line with stories.

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A person in his 40s, who is believed to have tried to assist Mr Upham, additionally stays unaccounted for after swimmers entered the water simply earlier than 10.25am on Thursday.

Several individuals needed to be pulled to security after robust winds created enormous swells, which dragged individuals underwater.

Friends, who mentioned Mr Upham had tried to get out of the water however was washed again down the seashore by an enormous wave, have been yesterday nonetheless clinging on to hope he may very well be sheltering someplace on the coast.

Describing him as “exceptionally kind” and well-liked within the seaside city, they instructed the Daily Mail: “He goes swimming practically every day, he’s very fit and knows the waters locally well.

“Lots of people went yesterday because of the Christmas Day swim, but Matthew would have been there regardless.

“He’d never intend to spark such a big rescue effort, in fact he’d be horrified at putting anyone at risk to look for him.”

Another added: “It looks as though Matthew was trying to come out of the water, but was pulled back out and drifted further down the beach.

“We don’t know who the man in his 40s is. We believe he is someone who’d gone to try and help Matthew.”

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Mike Brown, 60, who does the Christmas Day swim most years, mentioned that he was “unable to get out” after getting into the ocean however was helped by “two very brave men” who waded into the water and pulled him to security.

“It was a lot worse situations than regular and a number of the worst situations I’ve ever tried to swim in,” he instructed the BBC. “With hindsight it was clearly a mistake to try and get in.”

He added: “They took an arm each and dragged me to safety and as quickly as it had started, it was over, I was on the beach and I was safe.”

A number of people were brought to shore and checked either by paramedics at the scene or taken to hospital as a precaution, police said.

Although the swim is an annual tradition which is replicated by wild swimmers at beaches across the country over Christmas, it is an unofficial event and is not supported by lifeguards.

A passing RNLI lifeboat, which was out on a training exercise, was able to quickly respond after swimmers got into trouble, according to reports.

HM Coastguard joined a major multi-agency search and rescue operation as they repeatedly scoured the coastline in the face of large waves and strong winds.

Search efforts were halted at 5pm on Christmas Day after “extensive shoreline and offshore searches”. In a press release, they paid tribute to RNLI volunteers “who put to sea without hesitation in an atrocious sea state”.

In a publish on Facebook, RNLI Exmouth mentioned situations “were extremely difficult and cold for the crew involved in the search who were out all day”, including that many organised swims have been cancelled because of this.

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Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed each males stay lacking on Saturday and a police presence stays on the scene.

The drive had urged individuals to not swim on Boxing Day, with Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar warning: “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 [Friday], we urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to.”

Following the tragedy, East Devon District Council urged locals to “think twice before taking the plunge this festive season”.

The native authority mentioned that chilly water shock, robust present and unpredictable climate can flip a “quick dip into a serious emergency”.