Devon & Cornwall Police News site

UPDATE – 1pm Boxing Day 26 December

Both men remain missing following this incident off Budleigh Salterton beach on Christmas Day.

Police enquiries are ongoing. A police presence remains at the scene.

Following extensive shoreline and offshore searches, HM Coastguard stood down its response at 5pm on Christmas Day.

Anyone with any relevant information which may assist police, who has not already spoken to us, is asked to call 101 or report via our website quoting log 191 of 25/12/25.

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UPDATE - 7.30pm Christmas Day 25 December

Two men remain missing in the water at Budleigh Salterton after concerns were raised this morning (25 December).

Emergency services were called at 10.25am today to the beach at Budleigh Salterton following concerns that a group had got into difficulty in the water.

A number of people were safely recovered to shore and checked either by paramedics at the scene or taken to hospital as a precaution.

Two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were not located during the search and remain missing at this time. Their families have been informed of the developments.

Extensive area searches have been ongoing throughout the day in efforts to locate them. Coastguard and RNLI have now concluded their searches at the scene.

Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said: “Today, emergency services have been responding to a truly tragic incident in Budleigh Salterton.

“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.

“The local community will have seen a significant amount of emergency services in the area throughout the day as extensive enquiries have been ongoing. As dark falls, a number of these searches have been stood down, with some police enquiries on land continuing this evening.

“There have been weather warnings in place this week and a number of official and un-official swims have already been cancelled. While there are no official warnings in place for tomorrow, we urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to.”

You can find sea safety messaging from HM Coastguard here - Sea safety | HM Coastguard UK

Anyone with any relevant information which may assist police, who hasn’t already spoken to us, is asked to call 101 or report via our website quoting log 191 of 25/12/25.