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A search for two men who went missing in the sea during a Christmas Day swim near Budleigh Salterton, Devon, was called off after hours of efforts by the coastguard. The emergency response began shortly after 10:25 GMT on Thursday when the men failed to return to shore along with some others who had been swimming. Despite rescuing several people, two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, remained unaccounted for.
The coastguard ceased its water search around 17:00, but police continued investigations on land into the evening. The families of the missing men have been informed of the situation. There are no official weather warnings on Boxing Day; however, many scheduled sea swims have been canceled, and police forces in Devon and Cornwall have advised the public against entering the water due to dangerous conditions.
Locals described the event as deeply shocking and tragic, particularly given the timing on Christmas Day. Resident John Smyley shared his feelings, saying, “I’ve never quite witnessed anything like this.” He recalled the sea as appearing “ferocious” on what had been a particularly cold day and expressed sorrow over the incident’s timing. Another eyewitness, Julia Robb, who was on the beach just before the men disappeared, noted the rough sea conditions. She described large waves breaking over swimmers and said, “It’s just tragic. It is just such a sad sad thing to happen on Christmas Day. You just feel for the families.”
Participants in the swim expressed awareness of the risk posed by the sea. Ashley Stoneman mentioned a “dangerous vibe” during the event, with swimmers questioning how far they should go into the water. Kelsey Jessup recalled initially expecting the cold to be the biggest hazard, but the crashing waves quickly revealed a more serious threat. She described the sea as if “Poseidon is having a temper tantrum here with these waves just crashing huge.” Devon and Cornwall police detective superintendent Hayley Costar called the incident “truly tragic,” extending condolences to the families and all affected by the event. Meanwhile, Budleigh Salterton Baptist Church posted messages of support and offered prayers and help to the families, friends, and emergency crews involved
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