A man who vanished during a Christmas Day swim off the Devon coast has been publicly identified by his grieving family as antiques dealer Matthew Upham.
A "Truly Tragic Incident" on Christmas Morning
Emergency services were summoned to Budleigh Salterton beach on Thursday morning, 25 December 2025, after multiple people were seen struggling in powerful waves. While several individuals were successfully escorted to safety, two men—one in his forties and another in his sixties—were swept away.
An extensive search operation involving coastguard rescue teams, search and rescue helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, police, and ambulance personnel was launched. After hours of searching, the operation was concluded on Thursday afternoon as darkness fell. The families of the missing men were informed.
Family Pays Heartbreaking Tribute
On Friday, 26 December, Matthew Upham's family released a poignant statement via his business's Instagram page. They described their profound heartbreak and confirmed the loss of their "beloved" family member.
"Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed," the statement read. The family extended their sincere gratitude to the emergency services, particularly praising the RNLI and coastguard for their "dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts." They requested privacy as they grieve.
Weather Warnings and Public Urged to Take Caution
The incident occurred during a Met Office yellow weather warning for wind, which was active for parts of South West England and Wales on Christmas Day. Footage from the scene depicted dangerous conditions, with large waves crashing onto the pebbled shore.
In the wake of the tragedy, Devon and Cornwall Police urged the public to avoid swimming on Boxing Day. Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar stated emergency services had responded to a "truly tragic incident" and that their thoughts were with the families and friends of the missing men, as well as any witnesses.
The second man, also missing and feared dead, has not yet been publicly named. The local community in Budleigh Salterton witnessed a significant emergency service presence throughout Christmas Day.
