One of the swimmers missing in the sea off the Devon coast has been named as antiquities dealer Matthew Upham.
The 63-year-old is feared to have died during a Christmas Day swim at Budleigh Salterton after he joined several other people on the beach yesterday for the annual event.
“Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved family member Matthew Upham, who was reported missing on Christmas Morning,” his family said in a social media statement.
“Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed. We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to theemergency services who responded, particularly the RNLI and coastguard, for their dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts during this extremely difficult time.
Matthew Upham has been named as one of the swimmers missing off the Devon coast
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“We are profoundly grateful for their compassion and support,” they added.
“As we grieve and support one another, we kindly ask that our family’s privacy is respected.
“We thank everyone for their understanding, kindness, and condolences.”
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day after concerns for people in the water.
Christmas Day swimmers have been pulled from the water off the Devon coast | PA
Several swimmers were safely recovered to shore and checked by paramedics or taken to hospital as a precaution.
However, two men, one in their 60s and one in their 40s, remained unaccounted for.
At 1pm on Boxing Day, officers issued an update after the coastguard called off its search yesterday.
A spokesman for the coastguard said last night: “After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the HM Coastguard part of the search was stood down at 5pm.”
Many Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled this year because of a yellow weather warning for wind, which covered parts of the South West and Wales.
No warnings were issued for Boxing Day, but Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said: “We urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to.”
Emergency crews rushed to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am after receiving reports that swimmers were struggling in treacherous waters | GETTY
Describing the events in Budleigh Salterton as “a truly tragic incident”, she had said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the families and friends of the two men who are currently missing and to all who may have witnessed and be impacted by the incident.”
Local resident Julia Robb, who had been watching swimmers at the beach before the men went missing, said: “It is just awful.”
She said the waves “would have been at least 6ft I would have thought” and it was only when she later heard helicopters it became clear something was wrong.
Ms Robb added: “It was a sad thing to happen on what had been such a positive morning.I just feel sorry for those who have been affected.