Two men are currently missing after a Christmas Day swim at Budleigh Salterton beach in the southern United Kingdom. On December 25, 2023, a group of swimmers encountered treacherous water conditions, prompting emergency services to respond at approximately 10:25 a.m. According to the Devon and Cornwall Police, several individuals were safely brought to shore and assessed by paramedics, while two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, have not been located.
Search efforts for the missing men have been extensive but were suspended as darkness fell on Thursday evening. “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 been impacted by the incident,” stated Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar.
Challenging Conditions and Warnings
Authorities had issued several weather warnings leading up to Christmas Day, which resulted in the cancellation of both official and unofficial swimming events. The Met Office had warned of “strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds,” with gusts reaching between 55 and 65 mph.
Detective Superintendent Costar emphasized the risks associated with swimming in such conditions, urging the public to reconsider their plans for swimming on Boxing Day. “While there are no official warnings in place for tomorrow, we urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to,” she cautioned.
As the search operations continue, the local community is rallying around the families of the missing men, hoping for their safe return.
