Police issue urgent Boxing Day swims plea as men missing at sea | UK | News
Police issued an urgent appeal to citizens on Boxing Day as it was feared the two men were lost at sea. The traditional Christmas Day swim turned into a nightmare in the east Devon town of Budleigh Salterton today.
Emergency services were called to the area at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns about citizens in the water. Police said several people were brought safely to shore, two were checked by paramedics and another was taken to hospital as a precaution. The two men, one in his 40s and the other in his 60s, could not be located during the search and were lost at sea after having difficulty on the beach.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the search, which involved the coastguard and the RNLI, was called off at around 5pm. A force spokesman said families had been kept informed of developments.
On Christmas Day the Met Office had a yellow weather warning for wind in parts of south-west England and Wales, and so a number of Christmas and Boxing Day swimming events in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled.
There was no warning for Boxing Day, but police still warned people not to go swimming in the sea.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Emergency services are responding to a truly tragic incident in Budleigh Salterton today.
“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two men currently missing and everyone who witnessed and was affected by the incident.
“The local community will have seen a significant amount of emergency services in the area throughout the day as extensive investigations continue.
“As darkness fell, some of these searches were suspended and some police investigations on the ground continued this evening.
“Weather warnings have been issued this week and a number of official and unofficial swims have already been cancelled.
“While there is no official warning for tomorrow, we would advise anyone planning to swim in the sea on Boxing Day not to do so.”
