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Police in Devon have discouraged people from doing so boxing Day swim after annual xmas day Dip saw that many people got into trouble at sea.
Two men aged forty and sixty swept away Out to sea in Budleigh Salterton on Thursday, and they still haven’t met Despite extensive searches of the field.
Many Christmas and Boxing Day swims were canceled in Devon and Cornwall this year yellow weather warning for wind Issued by the Met Office, including the south west and parts of Wales.
No weather warnings have been issued for Boxing Day or the following days, but officials have urged people to stay away from the sea.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Although there is no official warning, we urge anyone planning to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to do so.”
Describing the events at Budleigh Salterton as “a truly tragic event”, he added: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two people who are currently missing and with all those who witnessed and were affected by this incident.”
Local resident Julia Robb, who was watching swimmers on the beach before the men went missing, said: “It’s terrible.”
He said it was a “very cold and windy” day, where “the waves were big, breaking over people”.
She said the waves “must have been at least 6 feet, I would have thought”, and later when she heard the sound of helicopters it became clear something was wrong.
Ms Robb said: “It was a sad thing to happen on such a positive morning. I’m just sorry for those who have been affected.”
“I think it will be shocking to the entire community. We’re a small town. People are very friendly. I think it’s important to think about the friends and families of those who have been affected.”
Ahead of Christmas Day, the Met Office warned of “strong and gusty east to north-easterly winds” across parts of south-west England and Wales from 4am to 11.59pm on Thursday.
It said maximum gusts could reach 45 to 55 mph, but some exposed coasts and west of major hills could reach 55 to 65 mph.
It added: “Large waves will be an additional danger at some beaches.”
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day after concerns were raised about people in the water.
HM Coast Guard Said it had responded to reports of “people in difficulty”, and rescue teams were dispatched from Exmouth and Beare, as well as RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay.
Coast Guard search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were also dispatched to the scene, along with police and ambulance personnel.
RNLI lifesaving crews helped pull a man from the water. Several people were brought safely to shore and examined by paramedics or taken to hospital as a precaution.
On Thursday evening, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the Coastguard and RNLI search of the area has now ended.
An RNLI spokesperson said: “All lifeboat crews were stood down by coastguards at around 5pm when they returned to stations.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident and the families and friends of the two missing.”
Both the men could not be traced during extensive searches and are missing. Police confirmed that their families have been informed about the developments.