UK Devon - Two men, aged 40s and 60s, missing following traditional Boxing Day swim

[MelmothTheLost]

Minutes to Christmas Day swim disaster: Just moments after this photo was taken, two swimmers were missing as tragedy hit festive tradition​

A poignant photograph has captured the moment just before an annual Christmas Day dip turned to disaster when two wild swimmers were swept away at sea.

Several other swimmers had to be dragged to safety from the choppy waters at Budleigh Salterton as high winds created huge swells.

The two men – one in his 40s and the other in his 60s – had been taking part in a traditional swim off the coast of Devon when the alarm was raised at around 10.25am yesterday.

Images show dozens of people in swimwear and Santa hats screaming and laughing as they run into the crashing waves. But moments later, emergency services were called following reports of concern for several swimmers in the stormy waters.

Moments after this photo was taken, two swimmers were missing

Several other swimmers had to be dragged to safety from the choppy waters at Budleigh Salterton as high winds created huge swells.

www.dailymail.co.uk

It may take the police some time to work out exactly who is missing. There are a number of these traditional Boxing Day sea swims around the country and participants may be attending on their own without letting friends and family know where they are going.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The search has been called off.

Search called off for two swimmers missing at sea​

A coastguard search operation for two men who went missing in the sea during a Christmas Day swim has been called off.

Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton, in Devon, shortly after 10:25 GMT on Thursday.

While some people were brought back to shore, two men in their 40s and 60s could not be located.

The coastguard stopped searching the water at 17:00, but police said on-shore enquiries continued into the evening. The men's families have been informed.

The men have clearly been identified and their families notified that they are missing. Presumably they will be named shortly.