Search is called off for men after group 'got into difficulty'

The Coastguard has called off its search for two swimmers who got into difficulty off a beach in Devon on Christmas morning. 

Sadly search and rescue teams were unable to locate two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, today and they remain missing. Both families have been informed. 

Emergency services were called at 10.25am to Budleigh Salterton following concern for swimmers in the water.

A number of people were said to have gotten into trouble in the water due to the bad weather, with the ambulance service treating two people at the scene and having to take one person to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

The Coastguard stood down the search this evening at 5pm after a joint effort search from Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats, Teignmouth and Torbay and coastguard search and rescue helicopters.

A yellow weather warning was in place in Devon today for wind after it was warned that east to northeasterly winds would become particularly strong and gusty. 

As police now warn swimmers to not enter the water on boxing day as the bad weather is set to continue into tomorrow.  

Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar 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.

'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.'

According to HM Coastguard: 'HM Coastguard responded to reports of people in difficulty in water in the Budleigh Salterton area this morning, 25 December. 

'Alerted at around 10am, Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay and coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were sent to the scene to assist, alongside police and ambulance service. 

'Searches have continued throughout the day to find two men believed to still be in the water. After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the coastguard part of the search was stood down at 5pm.'

Hundreds of people were seen gathering at Exmouth and Budleigh beaches this morning for unofficial Christmas Day swims.

Earlier, Devon and Cornwall Police urged people to stay out of the sea due to 'an incident in the water'.

The force said: 'Please do not enter the water and avoid the area. We are also urgently asking the public not enter the water at Exmouth for the Christmas day swim while emergency services are committed with this incident'.

One local said: 'Awful. The advice was clearly issued not to swim today with many organised events being cancelled. Hoping for a positive outcome for everyone affected.'

Another said: 'Did people see the state of the sea today and think its probably not the best idea to go for a swim?'

While another added: 'Our local swim was cancelled and quite right too. The swell was huge and the wind set to increase. No need to go in today wait until it settles down.'

Melissa Hill, who was visiting the town for Christmas, was at the scene and said: 'The coastguards have cordoned off part of the path where the swimmers set off from.

'They are overlooking the area where this happened. It is such an awful thing to have happened. There is no good time to die but Christmas Day is so terrible.

'But the conditions are dreadful. The sea is cold, the wind is strong and the waves are crashing in. I can't believe anyone went into the water when it was like this.'

A local woman added: 'We went to see the annual Christmas Day swim at Exmouth which is next door to Budleigh Salterton.

'There were many, many hundreds of people who went in and it passed without incident. I can't believe they went in because there have been warnings about the conditions in Devon and Cornwall. Some organisers sensibly cancelled their events.'

A coastguard at the scene earlier said: 'This was a major response. We have had multi helicopters, lifeboats and coastguards on scene. I cannot provide any other information.'

The Met Office warned of 'strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds' from 4am until 11.59pm on Christmas Day in parts of the south west of England and Wales.

It said peak gusts would reach 45mph to 55mph but these could reach 55-65mph along some exposed costs and to the west of prominent hills.

Disruption could be caused to transport and power supplies, the forecaster said.

It added: 'Large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts.'