Heartfelt tributes have been paid to one of two men who remain missing after a Christmas Day swim in Devon turned to tragedy. The family of Matthew Upham, a local antiques dealer, described him as 'deeply loved and forever missed' following the incident at Budleigh Salterton.
Emergency Services Launch Major Coastal Search
Emergency services were called to the popular Devon beach at 10.25am on Christmas Day following reports of people in difficulty in the water. A large-scale operation involving multiple agencies was immediately launched.
Coastguard rescue teams from Exmouth and Beer attended, along with RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay. Coastguard search and rescue helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, police and ambulance personnel were all sent to the scene.
While a number of people were safely recovered to shore and checked by paramedics or taken to hospital as a precaution, two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, could not be located. On Boxing Day, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that both men remained missing and that a police presence was still at the scene.
A Community in Shock
In a statement posted on Mr Upham's Instagram account, his grieving family expressed their heartbreak. "Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved family member Matthew Upham, who was reported missing on Christmas morning," they said.
They extended sincere thanks to the emergency services, particularly the RNLI and coastguard, for their "dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts" during the search. The family, who have asked for privacy as they grieve, said they were "profoundly grateful" for the compassion and support shown.
Local resident Julia Robb, who had been watching swimmers before the men went missing, described the conditions as "very cold and windy" with waves she estimated were at least 6ft high. "It is just awful," she said. "It was a sad thing to happen on what had been such a positive morning... I think it will be shocking for the whole community. We are a small town."
Warnings Issued After Tragic Incident
The incident prompted authorities to issue a stark warning to others considering entering the sea. Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar described the events as "a truly tragic incident" and urged the public to reconsider any plans for Boxing Day swims.
Her warning came despite no weather warnings being in place for Boxing Day. A number of organised Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had already been cancelled this year due to a yellow weather warning for wind covering parts of the South West and Wales.
An RNLI spokesman confirmed that lifeboat crews had helped recover one person from the water and were stood down by the coastguard around 5pm. "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident and the family and friends of the two people who are missing," the spokesman said.
Police inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
