Police give update on searches after what they describe as a 'truly tragic incident' on Christmas Day
Police are tonight asking swimmers not to enter the water on Boxing Day for annual festive swims
Last updated 25th Dec 2025
Police have given an update tonight on what they call a 'truly tragic incident' after searches were reduced for two missing men - following this morning's annual festive swim at Budleigh Salterton.
Emergency services were called to the beach at 10.25am following concerns that a group had got into difficulty in the water - with a number of people having to be safely recovered to shore and some 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.
In a joint statement with the Coastguard and RNLI, emergency services say following extensive area searches throughout the day their efforts have now been concluded.
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.
"Anyone with any relevant information which may assist police, who hasn’t already spoken to us, is asked to call 101 or report via our website quoting log 191 of 25/12/25."
Ahead of today, a number of Christmas and Boxing Day swims across Devon and Cornwall were cancelled because of a yellow weather warning for wind.
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 45-55mph but these could reach 55-65mph along some exposed costs and to the west of prominent hills.
Earlier on Thursday, police told people not to enter the water and to avoid the area.
They urgently asked the public not to take part in the Christmas Day swim at Exmouth while emergency services were dealing with the incident.