A number of swimmers have been pulled from the water after getting into difficulty off the coast.
Emergency crews descended on Budleigh Salterton beach on the Devon coastline this morning after being alerted to the incident.
The alarm was raised at 10.25am, triggering a significant emergency response.
Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed several individuals have been successfully brought ashore and are awaiting medical examination by paramedic teams.
Search operations remain underway in the waters, with rescue teams working to ensure all those who entered the sea have been accounted for.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency also responded to the alert with helicopter units scrambled to assist with the search from above.
Lifeboat crews from both Exmouth and Torbay stations have been deployed to the scene.
Rescue teams from Exmouth and Beer coastguard stations are involved in the ongoing operation alongside ambulance personnel.
Lifeboat crews from both Exmouth and Torbay stations have been deployed to the scene
|
PA
A spokesman said: “Coastguard and RNLI crews are continuing search efforts in the water.
“There is a significant amount of emergency service personnel working on this incident and we ask that people do not enter the water along this stretch of coast while this incident is ongoing for public safety reasons.”
Authorities have issued an urgent appeal for members of the public to stay clear of the water at both locations whille emergency services continue the rescue operation.
Devon and Cornwall Police specifically warned against entering the sea at Exmouth, where a Christmas Day swim had been scheduled, as well as along the affected stretch of coastline at Budleigh Salterton.
Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Please do not enter the water and avoid the area.”
Hundreds of swimmers had assembled at both beaches earlier in the day for traditional festive dips.
Strong gusts are set to batter parts of the UK as the Met Office have issued yellow weather warnings on Christmas Day | MET OFFICE
A wind weather warning remains active across Devon, with forecasters cautioning that strong and gusty conditions from the east and northeast could generate hazardous waves and spray affecting coastal communities and seafronts.
The Met Office yellow wind warning came into force at 4am this morning and will remain until midnight tonight.
The warning is in effect across South West England, including Plymouth and Cornwall, as well as Wales, including Cardiff and Swansea.
“Strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds on Christmas Day may lead to some disruption,” the Met Office’s warning read.
The Met Office warned it could reach 65mph on exposed coasts and to the west of prominent hills.
They added: “Given the more unusual wind direction, this may lead to some disruption to transport and power supplies. Large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts.”
In a separate warning to Britons about taking a dip on Christmas, Britain’s national forecaster wrote: “Take note, despite sea surface temperatures around 10-11 degrees Celsius, coming out of the water, it’ll feel close to freezing in the strong easterly winds,” the Met Office said on X.
They added that, though water temperatures are “warmer than usual just now, the sea can still cause cold water shock.”
The UK Health Security Agency also issued a yellow cold-health alert yesterday.