There has been a major emergency response at the scene
The Coastguard has called off a Christmas Day search for two men believed to be missing in the water off the Devon coast. Emergency services attended Budleigh Salterton, near Exmouth in east Devon, at 10.25am this morning (December 25).
Devon and Cornwall Police said it was called out to concerns for people in difficulty in the water. A number of people were safely taken to shore, including two who were checked by paramedics and one who attended hospital as a precaution.
HM Coastguard has now called off its part of the search for the two remaining men. Police previously said enquiries were ongoing to try and find the pair.
In a statement on Christmas Day evening, a HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “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.”
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “The next of kin of one man have been spoken to. Inquiries to speak to the family of the second man are ongoing, however a local friend has been informed as part of these efforts.
“A significant amount of emergency service personnel were deployed to the incident and we ask that people do not enter the water for public safety reasons – due to the current weather warnings we ask that this is the case today and for any Boxing Day swims.” The RNLI said that lifeboats from Exmouth, Torbay and Teignmouth were sent.
A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said: “We were called at 10.10am to reports of people in difficulty in the sea. We sent resources to the scene and conveyed one person by land ambulance to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. We treated and discharged two further people at the scene.”
A number of Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled this year 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 coasts and to the west of prominent hills. There could be disruption to transport and power supplies, the forecaster said.
It added: “Large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts.” Anyone with information which may help police is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police by calling 101 or through the force’s website, quoting log number 191 of December 25.
