Emergency services rescued a number of swimmers from the sea off Budleigh Salterton beach in Devon on Christmas Day following reports of people in difficulty, prompting the cancellation of a nearby traditional swim and warnings to avoid the area amid ongoing search efforts.
Devon and Cornwall Police were called to Budleigh Salterton beach at 10.25am on Christmas Day after concerns were raised for people in the water, leading to a major emergency response where several individuals were safely recovered to shore and assessed by paramedics, according to reports from Hello Rayo.
Emergency Services Mobilise at Devon Beach
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that emergency services rushed to the scene at Budleigh Salterton in east Devon following the alert at 10.25am, with a number of people safely brought back to shore, as stated by a police spokesperson cited in Hello Rayo. Coastguard and RNLI crews remained active in the water conducting further searches, while a significant presence of emergency personnel worked on the incident. According to UKNIP, authorities described the situation as a serious incident in the waters off Budleigh Salterton, with the scene remaining active as rescue efforts continued.
As reported by Claire Hayhurst for Hello Rayo, a police spokesperson 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.”
Public Warnings and Impact on Local Traditions
Police issued urgent appeals for the public to avoid the area and not enter the water, extending the warning to nearby Exmouth beach where hundreds had gathered for a traditional Christmas Day swim. According to Hello Rayo, police specifically told people not to take part in the Christmas Day swim at Exmouth while emergency services dealt with the incident at Budleigh Salterton. UKNIP reported that despite the gatherings at Exmouth and Budleigh beaches, officials issued a firm directive: “Please do not enter the water and avoid the area.” This intervention halted the planned festive dips, which are popular annual events in the region.
Weather Conditions Contribute to Cancellations
A yellow weather warning for strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds from 4am until 11.59pm on Christmas Day across parts of south west England led to the cancellation of several Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall, as noted by Hello Rayo. The Met Office warning highlighted the hazardous conditions, exacerbating risks during the festive swimming season.
Safety Concerns Amid Festive Sea Swims
Devon and Cornwall Police promised updates as the situation developed, with the clear message to stay out of the sea and avoid affected beaches, according to UKNIP. Hello Rayo emphasised that earlier on Christmas Day, police had advised the public to steer clear, underscoring the ongoing nature of the response. While specific details on the rescued swimmers’ conditions were not disclosed, paramedics were on hand to check those recovered, reflecting standard procedure in such incidents.
Clear, factual conclusion summarising reported developments without opinion or analysis: Emergency services responded swiftly to reports of swimmers in distress off Budleigh Salterton on Christmas Day, recovering several people safely while searches continued; public swims were halted, and warnings issued amid poor weather, with authorities maintaining a presence at the scene.
