A man has described the terrifying moment he was rescued from ferocious seas during a traditional Christmas Day swim in Devon, an event that left two other participants missing and feared dead.
A Festive Tradition Turns to Horror
Hundreds of people had gathered at Budleigh Salterton beach on Thursday 25th December for the annual festive swim. However, the event quickly turned dangerous as a group of swimmers found themselves in severe difficulty. Eyewitnesses reported confronting 6ft waves and wind gusts of up to 65mph battering the coast.
"Some of the Worst Conditions I've Ever Tried to Swim In"
One of those caught in the perilous conditions was Mike Brown, a 60-year-old local resident. Speaking to the BBC, Brown admitted that entering the water was a clear mistake. "It was much worse conditions than normal and some of the worst conditions I've ever tried to swim in," he stated.
Brown, who has lived in Budleigh Salterton for nearly thirty years, described being completely overpowered by the sea. "I was unable to get out," he explained. "After successive waves crashing me into the stones, I managed to get into relatively shallow water, but I was spent. I had no energy left to stand and I'd taken a number of blows to the head."
The Lifesaving Intervention of Two Strangers
His rescue came thanks to the swift and selfless actions of two bystanders. Without hesitation, the two local men rushed into the churning water in their ordinary clothes to reach the exhausted swimmer.
"These two men without any concern for their own safety waded in to help me," Brown recounted with gratitude. "They took an arm each and dragged me to safety and as quick as it had started, it was over, I was on the beach and I was safe."
The aftermath of the ordeal left Brown with minor injuries, including a cut to his head. He is now keen to find the two brave individuals who saved him so he can thank them personally for their decisive, lifesaving actions.
The incident has cast a shadow over the community, with a major search operation launched for the two men who remain missing following the Christmas Day swim. The event underscores the deadly risks posed by extreme weather conditions, even during traditional and typically celebratory occasions.
