Two men feared missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Day | UK news
Two men are believed to be missing in the water off a beach in Devon after some people were reported to be in distress.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns for people in the water.
Several people were brought safely to shore, two were checked by paramedics and one was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: “Two men are currently missing and searches and inquiries are ongoing in efforts to locate them.”
“One man’s next of kin has been interviewed. Efforts to interview the second man’s family are ongoing, but a local friend has been informed as part of these efforts.
“A significant number of emergency personnel have been deployed to the incident and we are asking people not to enter the water for public safety reasons – we would also ask this to be the case for swims taking place today and Boxing Day due to current weather warnings.”
The Coast Guard confirmed in a statement that it was alerted to the incident at around 10 a.m. on Thursday.
A spokesman said: “HM Coastguard is responding to reports of people experiencing difficulties in the water at Budleigh Salterton on 25 December.
“Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams were alerted at around 10am, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay and coastguard search and rescue helicopters were dispatched to the scene to assist, alongside police and ambulance services.”
The RNLI said lifeboats from Exmouth, Torbay and Teignmouth were deployed to the incident.
A spokesperson for the South West ambulance service NHS trust said: “We were called at 10.10am to reports of people having difficulties at sea.
“We sent resources to the scene and transported one person to the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital by ground ambulance.
“We treated and discharged two more people at the scene.”
A number of Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall this year have been canceled due to a yellow weather warning due to wind.
The Met Office warned of “strong, gusty east to north-east winds” across south-west England and Wales from 4am to 11.59pm on Christmas Day.
Peak winds will reach 45 to 55 mph, but could reach 55 to 65 mph on some open shores and west of prominent hills.
The forecaster said it could cause disruption to transportation and power supplies.
He added: “Large waves will pose additional danger on some coasts.”
Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall police by calling 101 or via the force’s website, quoting log number 191 of 25 December.
