An extensive search and rescue operation was launched on Christmas Day after two men were reported missing in the water off Budleigh Salterton beach in Devon. Emergency services were called at 10:25 am following concerns for multiple individuals in difficulty in the turbulent sea. While a number of people were safely recovered to shore, with two checked by paramedics and one taken to hospital as a precaution, the search continued for the two missing men.

The incident prompted a significant deployment of emergency personnel. Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth, and Torbay, along with coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, were dispatched to the scene. These teams worked in conjunction with Devon and Cornwall Police and the ambulance service. HM Coastguard confirmed they were alerted around 10 am.

Search efforts continued throughout the day, covering both shoreline and offshore areas. However, after extensive searches, the coastguard part of the operation was stood down at 5 pm, with the two men still unaccounted for. Police confirmed that the next of kin for one of the missing men had been informed, and efforts were ongoing to contact the family of the second man, with a local friend having been notified as part of these efforts.

The perilous conditions in the water were exacerbated by a yellow weather warning issued by the Met Office for strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds. These winds were forecast from 4 am until 11:59 pm on Christmas Day across parts of the south-west of England and Wales, with peak gusts of 45 to 55 mph, potentially reaching 55 to 65 mph along exposed coasts and prominent hills. Large waves were also highlighted as an additional hazard. Consequently, many organized Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had been cancelled due to these severe weather conditions.

Despite the explicit warnings and cancellations, hundreds of people were observed gathering at Exmouth and Budleigh beaches for unofficial Christmas Day swims. Devon and Cornwall Police urgently appealed to the public to stay out of the water at Budleigh Salterton and Exmouth, citing public safety reasons and the ongoing incident. Locals expressed dismay and questioned why individuals entered the water given the dreadful conditions, describing the sea as cold, the wind strong, and waves crashing in.

One local observer noted,