Two people remain missing after multiple swimmers encountered trouble in the water during an annual Christmas Day swim off the coast of Devon, England.
On Thursday, Dec. 25, Devon & Cornwall Police said officials were continuing their search for “two men who are believed to be missing in the water in Budleigh Salterton.”
Authorities said they received an alert at 10:25 a.m. local time about an incident at the beach “following concerns for people in the water.” Police confirmed that “a number of people were safely recovered to shore and checked either by paramedics at the scene or taken to hospital as a precaution.”
However, “two men remain missing at this time and searches and enquiries are ongoing in efforts to locate them.”
Police added that “the next of kin of one man have been spoken to. Enquiries to speak to the family of the second man are ongoing, however a local friend has been informed as part of these efforts.”
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Devon & Cornwall Police were contacted for further comment.
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HM Coastguard also confirmed it had been “responding to reports of people in difficulty in the water at Budleigh Salterton” on Thursday.
The agency said Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay, and coastguard search-and-rescue helicopters were assisting at the scene “alongside police and ambulance service.”
In a statement shared on Facebook, police urged the public to stay out of the water for safety reasons, citing current weather warnings. They also asked that this guidance be followed for any Boxing Day swims.
Organizers of several Christmas Day swims in Devon and Cornwall reportedly cancelled or postponed events due to “yellow weather warnings for wind,” according to the BBC. The outlet also reported that authorities asked people not to take part in a Christmas Day swim at Exmouth while emergency services responded to the Budleigh Salterton incident.
