A traditional Christmas Day swim in Devon ended in tragedy yesterday as two men were swept out to sea in treacherous conditions, sparking a major search and rescue operation and growing anger over the event being allowed to proceed.
Search Called Off After Major Rescue Effort
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton beach at 10.25am on Christmas Day following reports of swimmers in difficulty. Despite a widespread search involving multiple agencies, two men – one in his 40s and another in his 60s – have not been found.
Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay, and coastguard search and rescue helicopters were all deployed to the scene. After extensive shoreline and offshore searches throughout the day, the coastguard part of the operation was stood down at 5pm.
Questions Raised Over Event Safety
Local residents and observers have expressed fury that the informal annual gathering was allowed to go ahead despite severe weather warnings. The Met Office had issued a yellow warning for strong easterly winds with gusts of up to 65mph along exposed coasts, warning that large waves would pose an additional hazard.
One person familiar with the coastline stated on social media: 'The sea at Budleigh today was treacherous with huge waves and dangerous currents. Nobody should have been swimming there.' Another questioned: 'Why was this even allowed?'
It is understood the swim is a long-standing tradition rather than a formally organised event, with participants bearing their own risk. The RNLI often attends such gatherings in a safety capacity.
Police Urge Caution for Boxing Day Swims
In the wake of the incident, Devon and Cornwall Police have issued a stark reminder for people to stay away from the water for planned Boxing Day swims. Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said: 'We urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to.'
Several official and unofficial Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had already been cancelled prior to Christmas Day due to the forecast. Teignmouth RNLI confirmed its 'Boxing Day Walk In The Sea' was cancelled and asked people not to take part independently.
Police confirmed they have spoken to the next of kin of one of the missing men and are working to inform the family of the second. A local friend has been informed.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene. BBC journalist Phillip Stoneman, a regular at the event, said: 'The waves swept some people exiting the sea off their feet... The RNLI boat was out in the water at the time and hundreds of people were either on the beach or in the water.'
A local pensioner reported that as many as four people were initially feared missing, highlighting the scale of the incident. A coastguard worker at the scene described it as a 'major response'.
The tragedy coincided with a separate warning from Arun District Council for festive swimmers to take extra care due to metal fragments potentially in the water off West Sussex, following a shipping container incident earlier in December.
