A man who survived a dangerous Christmas tradition where two individuals went missing at sea and were feared dead shared the story of how two courageous individuals rescued him.
On Christmas day, hundreds of people gathered in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, for the yearly festive swim. However, a group encountered significant difficulties while in the water, with witnesses noting 6ft waves and wind gusts of up to 65mph at the local beach.
Mike Brown, a participant in the Budleigh Salterton swim, recounted his harrowing experience of being rescued in extreme conditions he had never faced before. Mike, aged 60, expressed gratitude towards two brave bystanders who risked their lives to save him as he struggled against massive waves.
In an interview with the BBC, Mike stated, “The conditions were far worse than usual, some of the toughest I’ve ever attempted to swim in. Looking back, it was clearly a mistake to enter the water.”
Having resided in Budleigh Salterton for nearly thirty years, Mike described his struggle to get out of the sea after entering on Christmas Day.
He recounted, “After being repeatedly struck by waves against the rocks, I managed to reach shallower waters, but I was exhausted. I lacked the strength to stand and had suffered several head injuries.”
Mike shared how two local men, disregarding their own safety, waded into the water fully clothed to assist him. He said, “These two individuals selflessly came to my aid without hesitation.”
The 60-year-old added, “Each taking one of my arms, they pulled me to safety, and just as quickly as it began, it was over—I was back on the beach, safe and sound.”
Following the swim, Mike sustained minor injuries and was photographed with blood flowing from a head wound. He expressed his intention to locate the two courageous men to express his gratitude for their life-saving actions.
Emergency services were alerted to the situation at Budleigh Salterton beach at 10:25 am after reports emerged that a group of individuals were in distress in the water. Although several people were rescued safely, two men remain missing after the Christmas Day incident.
One of the missing men, feared to have perished, was identified as local antiques dealer Matthew Upham. His family paid a poignant tribute to the cherished individual.
In their statement, they mourned, “Our hearts are heavy at the loss of our dear family member Matthew Upham, who went missing on Christmas morning. Matthew was deeply cherished and will be profoundly missed.”
Expressing gratitude, they added, “We extend our sincere thanks to the emergency services, notably the RNLI and coastguard, for their devoted, professional, and relentless efforts during