‘Why was this even allowed?’ Anger grows over decision to go ahead with Christmas Day swim where two men disappeared in rough seas – after other swims were cancelled in high winds

Devastated locals have questioned why the annual Christmas Day swimming event in Devon was ‘allowed’ to be held in stormy conditions after two men were still missing after being swept out to sea.

A poignant photo captured the moment a traditional fall turned disastrous at Budleigh Salterton yesterday morning as winds of up to 65mph created giant waves and dragged several swimmers underwater. Many had to be towed safely to shore.

Despite widespread search and rescue efforts, two wild swimmers, one in his 40s and the other in his 60s, have still not been found after entering the water off the Devon coast just before 10.25am on Thursday.

Exmouth and Beer Coastguard rescue teams, RNLI lifeboats and a search and rescue helicopter were dispatched to the area and today issued an urgent warning to swimmers to stay away from similar swims.

Anger is now growing over the decision to allow the event to take place yesterday despite stormy conditions; however, it appears that the meeting was more of a tradition than a formally organized event.

The RNLI participates in many cases, but does so at the individual’s own risk.

Citizens living in communities near the tragedy expressed concern for the families of the missing people but also questioned why public officials could not stop the event if conditions were considered too dangerous for swimming. Others highlighted the risks posed to emergency services sent to assist in the search.

As someone warned: ‘Not Deniz Center Parcs. She’s stronger than any of us, and as generations of sailors in this town will attest, she’s a cruel mistress.

Exmouth and Beer Coastguard rescue teams, RNLI lifeboats and a search and rescue helicopter were deployed to search for missing persons.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added in a social media post that costs for security, event management and public safety staff could exceed £10,000 if the event was under the control of a public authority.

However, although yesterday’s event was free, it was considered ‘unofficial’.

The resident wrote: ‘No such controls on Boxing Day swimming; It is open to all ages, all abilities, drunk or sober, with or without undiagnosed health conditions. We cannot know; people come out and run to the water.

‘They don’t give their names and they certainly don’t sign a waiver. It was never “organized” and yet people “think” it was organized: there are no controls; there is no authority to take over in case something bad happens; and of course there is nothing to throw away if something goes wrong.

‘There are no official first aiders, no lifeguards or lifeboats. If someone gets cold water shock, gets a cramp, or falls and hits their head, nothing will fall into place.’

Another stated on social media: ‘Why was this allowed?’

Another said: ‘[It] should never have gone forward. ‘No respect for emergency services or their own safety.’

A third person who recognized the coastline said: ‘The sea at Budleigh today was treacherous with huge waves and dangerous currents. “No one should have been swimming there.”

In an update this morning, HM Coastguard told the Daily Mail that two men were still missing.

A spokesman said: ‘HM Coastguard responded to reports of people experiencing water shortages in the Budleigh Salterton area on 25 December.

‘Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams were alerted at around 10am, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay, coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were dispatched to assist at the scene, alongside police and ambulance services.

Searches continued throughout the day to find two men believed to be still in the water.

‘After extensive searches of the coastline and offshore, the coastguard portion of the search was stopped at 17:00.’

Emergency services were called to the beach at Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns about swimmers.

Emergency services arrived at Budleigh Salterton beach in Devon on Christmas Day but the coastguard search was called off after 5pm.

Meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police reminded people who wanted to go swimming the next day to stay away from the water.

Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said yesterday: ‘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 urge anyone planning to swim in the sea on Boxing Day not to do so.’

Teignmouth RNLI has issued a statement confirming that the Boxing Day Parade at Sea has been cancelled.

“We would ask people not to participate independently,” locals were reminded on social media.

As events unfolded yesterday, swimmers were asked not to attend nearby Exmouth’s Christmas Day swim while the incident was dealt with.

‘For public safety reasons we are asking people not to enter the water. “Due to current weather warnings, we ask that this remains the case for all swims today and Boxing Day,” a police spokesman said.

Police said they had contacted the missing man’s next of kin, but investigations were continuing to reach the second man’s family. They added that a local friend had been notified.

Meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police reminded people who wanted to go swimming the next day to stay away from the water. Picture: Crowd watches moments before traditional swim turns into disaster

Many Christmas and Boxing Day swimming events in Devon and Cornwall were canceled on Wednesday after a yellow weather warning was issued.

The Met Office has warned of ‘strong, gusty east to north-east winds’ across south-west England and Wales on Christmas Day. He noted that peak winds on exposed coasts could reach speeds of 55 to 65 miles per hour, warning: ‘Large waves will pose an additional hazard on some coasts.’

Despite the bad weather, hundreds of revelers went swimming in East Devon. Shortly after, the alarm was raised and a massive rescue effort was launched.

The search for the two people was suspended as of 17:00.

BBC correspondent Phillip Stoneman, who has been visiting Budleigh for swimming for the last few years, said: ‘As soon as we arrived you could tell the sea was the roughest it had ever been and anyone going in had to be much more careful than usual.

‘The waves knocked some people off their feet as they came out of the sea and other swimmers were helping them.’

He said the RNLI boat was in the water at the time and hundreds of people were either on the beach or in the water.

Melissa Hill, who visited the town for Christmas, said: ‘The coastguard have cordoned off part of the path where the swimmers set off. They are looking at the area where the incident occurred. This is a very scary incident. There’s no good time to die, but Christmas Day is terrible.

‘Conditions are very bad. The sea is cold, the wind is strong and the waves are crashing. ‘I can’t believe anyone went into the water in this state.’

A local pensioner, who asked not to be named, said up to four people were initially believed to be missing.

‘We went to the scene and were told that four people were missing. I don’t know if this figure is still accurate.

‘But conditions were very dangerous all day. There’s nothing here today to protect swimmers from the weather.’

A coastguard worker at the scene said: ‘It was a huge reaction. ‘There were many helicopters, lifeboats and coastguards at the scene.’

It came as wild swimmers were warned after containers full of bananas fell into the sea from a cargo ship off the Isle of Wight.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said 16 containers from the Baltic Klipper crashed into the sea off Bembridge on December 6.

It was also stated that some containers washed ashore at Selsey in West Sussex. Arun District Council has now warned that there may be metal fragments in the water. The council posted on Facebook: ‘If you are planning a festive swim this year, please take extra care on our beaches.

‘Following the recent shipping container incident, metal fragments may still be found in the sea along our coastline. Please stay safe and if you see anyone in distress in the water please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’