Second Body Recovered in Search for Christmas Day Swimmers in Devon
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The recovery of a second body brings a tragic conclusion to the search for two men who disappeared during a Christmas Day swim in challenging conditions off the coast of devon.
The body of a man was recovered from the sea off Exmouth on Sunday, January 25, following a large-scale operation involving police and the coastguard. Authorities believe the remains are those of Matthew Upham, 64, of Budleigh Salterton, one of two swimmers who went missing during the annual Christmas morning dip.
Search Intensifies After Christmas Day Tragedy
The search began on Christmas Day after several individuals encountered difficulties in the stormy waves at Budleigh Salterton. The challenging conditions quickly led to a large-scale rescue effort, but two swimmers were unable to be located. the initial search involved the RNLI, coastguard teams, and Devon and Cornwall Police.
On January 20, the body of the other missing swimmer, believed to be a 47-year-old man also from Budleigh Salterton, was discovered on the shore at Sandy Bay in Exmouth. Formal identification is still pending for both individuals,but authorities have notified the families of both men.
Details of the Recent Recovery
According to reports,emergency services were alerted to a possible body near the shore at Exmouth beach shortly before 3:00 PM on Sunday.A police spokesperson confirmed that a man’s body was afterward recovered along the shoreline.
“Emergency services were called shortly before 3pm on Sunday 25 January to Exmouth Beach following a report of a possible body seen near the shore,” the spokesperson stated. “The body of a man has since been recovered.Formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of a 64-year-old man from Budleigh Salterton have been informed of this growth.”
witnesses reported a meaningful emergency services presence near Orcombe Point, with a cordon restricting access to Sandy Bay. “There were officers setting up tape and cones at the point from the cliff, to close the beach, and the inshore lifeboat was moored off the beach just beyond Orcombe Point,” said one local resident.
Family statement and Ongoing Investigations
On Boxing Day, the family of Matthew Upham released a heartbreaking statement confirming his loss. They expressed their profound grief and extended sincere gratitude to the emergency services for their tireless efforts.
“Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved family member Matthew Upham, who was reported missing on Christmas morning,” the statement read. “We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the emergency services who responded, particularly the RNLI and coastguard, for their dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts during this extremely tough time. We are profoundly grateful for their compassion and support. as we grieve and support one another,we kindly ask that our family’s privacy is respected.we thank everyone for their u
Why did this happen? Two men disappeared while participating in an annual Christmas Day swim.They encountered difficulties in stormy waves and strong currents.
Who was involved? Matthew Upham, 64, and a 47-year-old man, both from Budleigh salterton, were the swimmers who went missing. The RNLI, coastguard teams, and Devon and Cornwall Police were involved in the search and recovery efforts.
what occurred? The two men went missing during a Christmas Day swim. One body was found on January 20th at Sandy bay, and the second body was recovered on January 25th at Exmouth Beach.
How did it end? The search concluded with the recovery of both bodies,
