The search for two men missing at sea has been called off overnight after a ‘truly tragic’ Budleigh Salterton Christmas Day swim.
Festive swimmers had to be plucked from the water, and some taken to hospital, after waves and tidal currents at Budleigh pulled some out to sea.
However, two swimmers, men aged in their 40s and 60s, remain missing while a large-scale search of the sea and surrounding shoreline has now ended.
Police described what happened at Budleigh as ‘truly tragic’, adding the families of the missing men have been notified of the latest developments, and confirmed Coastguard and RNLI searches ended at nightfall.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar, at Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Today, emergency services have been responding to a truly tragic incident in Budleigh Salterton.
“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.
“The local community will have seen a significant amount of emergency services in the area throughout the day as extensive enquiries have been ongoing. As dark falls, a number of these searches have been stood down, with some police enquiries on land continuing this evening.”
Budleigh’s annual festive dip ended abruptly when swimmers were caught out by powerful waves, which also knocked some onlookers onshore off their feet as they hit the beach.
The crowd on Budleigh beach waiting for the 2025 Christmas swim to start.
Photo: Fran McElhone.
The emergency services were called, an RNLI all-weather lifeboat crew, on exercise off Budleigh while the swim was taking place, launched immediately and Coastguard teams set off on a shoreline search.
Despite extensive searches two of the swimmers, both men, are still missing at sea.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “Two men remain missing in the water at Budleigh Salterton after concerns were raised this morning.
“Emergency services were called at 10.25am today [25 December] to the beach at Budleigh Salterton following concerns that a group had got into difficulty in the water.
“A number of people were safely recovered to shore and checked either by paramedics at the scene or taken to hospital as a precaution.
“Two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were not located during the search and remain missing at this time. Their families have been informed of the developments.
“Extensive area searches have been ongoing throughout the day in efforts to locate them. Coastguard and RNLI have now concluded their searches at the scene.”
Police warned against taking part in any other swims over the festive period.
DS Costar said: “There have been weather warnings in place this week and a number of official and un-official swims have already been cancelled. 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.”
If you have information to help police, and have not already been in contact, call 101, or report what you know through the force website, quoting log 191 of 25/12/25.
