Two Men Missing at Sea off Budleigh Salterton Coast

By John Pranay (Editor)

Two men are missing in the sea off the Devon coast, near Budleigh Salterton, after a Christmas Day swim. A major search operation was launched involving the RNLI, Coastguard, and police, but was stood down at 5pm due to darkness. The two missing men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were among hundreds of people who gathered for the annual Christmas Day swim. The search is ongoing, and their families have been informed.

The incident occurred on Christmas Day, when hundreds of people gathered at Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton beaches for the annual Christmas Day swim. Several people were pulled from the water, but two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were not located during the search. The RNLI and Coastguard conducted extensive shoreline and offshore searches, but were unable to find the missing men. A BBC journalist at the scene described the sea as "the roughest it's been," and warned that anyone going in would need to be cautious.

The search operation involved multiple agencies, including the RNLI, Coastguard, and police. The RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Torbay, and Teignmouth were tasked to the incident, and Coastguard search and rescue helicopters were also deployed. The search was stood down at 5pm, but police enquiries on land are continuing.

The incident highlights the risks associated with swimming in rough seas, particularly during strong winds. The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for the south west, and several Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled due to the weather conditions. The incident also raises concerns about the safety of swimmers and the effectiveness of search and rescue operations.

The search operation was complex, involving multiple agencies and assets. The RNLI and Coastguard have extensive experience in search and rescue operations, but the challenging weather conditions made the search more difficult. The incident also highlights the importance of weather forecasting and the need for swimmers to take precautions in rough seas.

There are no reported security implications from this incident. However, the incident highlights the risks associated with swimming in rough seas, particularly during strong winds. The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for the south west, and several Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled due to the weather conditions.

The search for the two missing men is ongoing, and police enquiries on land are continuing. The Coastguard and RNLI have stood down their searches, but the police are still investigating the incident. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the south west, and swimmers are urged not to enter the sea on Boxing Day.

This incident highlights the importance of weather forecasting and the need for swimmers to take precautions in rough seas. The RNLI and Coastguard have extensive experience in search and rescue operations, but the challenging weather conditions made the search more difficult. Crucially, this incident overlooks the broader trend of increasing weather-related incidents in the UK, particularly during the winter months. As the climate continues to change, it is essential that swimmers and beachgoers take necessary precautions and follow safety guidelines to minimize the risks associated with swimming in rough seas.

Our internal tone gauge currently reads: Neutral for this development.

1. Budleigh Salterton LIVE: Two men missing at sea after swim as search called off for the day — https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/budleigh-salterton-live-desperate-search-36456477

2. Two men missing at sea after Devon Christmas Day swim as desperate search called off — https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/christmas-day-swim-cancelled-emergency-36455947

3. Two men still missing after Christmas swim as coastguard calls off search — https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g41v0dekgo

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.