Coastguard search for swimmers missing at sea called off

Two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were not located during the extensive searches and remain missing.

Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton on Thursday (Alamy/PA)

The coastguard search for two men missing after a Christmas Day swim in the sea has been called off.

Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day after concerns for people in the water.

A number of people were safely recovered to shore and checked by paramedics or taken to hospital as a precaution but two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were not located.

A spokesman for the coastguard said: “After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the HM Coastguard part of the search was stood down at 5pm.”

Devon and Cornwall Police have previously said the families of the men were being kept informed of developments.

On Boxing Day, a police spokesman said “both men remain missing” following the incident.

He added: “Police inquiries are ongoing. A police presence remains at the scene.”

Local resident Julia Robb, who had been watching swimmers at the beach before the men went missing, said: “It is just awful.”

She said it had been a “very cold and windy” day where the “waves were big, breaking over people and it was jolly”.

She said the waves “would have been at least 6ft I would have thought” and it was only when she later heard helicopters it became clear something was wrong.

Ms Robb added: “It was a sad thing to happen on what had been such a positive morning.

“I just feel sorry for those who have been affected.

“I think it will be shocking for the whole community. We are a small town. People are very friendly.

“I think it is important to think of the friends and families of those who have been affected.”

HM Coastguard said it had responded to reports of “people in difficulty” in the water in the Budleigh Salterton area.

Coastguard rescue teams from Exmouth and Beer attended, along with RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay.

Coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, along with police and ambulance personnel were also sent to the scene.

RNLI lifeboat crews helped recover one person from the water.

A spokesman said: “All lifeboat crew were stood down by the coastguard around 5pm, when they returned to stations.

“Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident and the family and friends of the two people who are missing.”

A number of Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled this year because of a yellow weather warning for wind which covered parts of the South West and Wales.

No warnings were issued for Boxing Day but Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said: “We urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to.”

Describing the events in Budleigh Salterton as “a truly tragic incident”, she had said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the families and friends of the two men who are currently missing and to all who may have witnessed and be impacted by the incident.”