A SWIMMER who vanished during a Christmas Day dip is an antiques dealer as it’s revealed a second missing man was trying to save him.
The two men disappeared in the water at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, after being caught in the “dreadful” waves yesterday.
In an Instagram statement, the family of Matthew Upham identified their loved one as the missing swimmer.
They wrote they were, “heartbroken by the loss of our beloved family member… who was lost on Christmas morning”.
“Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed,” the statement adds.
A yellow rose has been left on the doorstep of the 63-year-old’s antiques store on the High Street of Budleigh Salterton.
While a second man in his 40s, who has not yet been identified, is feared to have drowned trying to rescue him.
Hundreds of joyous swimmers sporting Santa hats could be heard laughing and shouting as they raced to enter the sea.
But moments later, many had to be rescued from the water as huge waves crashed down onto the Jurassic Coast.
Emergency crews were scrambled to the popular seafront at around 10.25am following concern for swimmers in the water.
RNLI rescue teams, including helicopters and lifeboats, could be seen carrying out “extensive” shoreline and offshore searches.
Despite scouring the water for hours, cops confirmed two men – one in his 40s and the other in his 60s – remained missing at sea.
The coastguard’s hunt for the duo was stood down at around 5pm last night, as the RNLI also concluded their search.
Heartbroken friends paid tribute to Upham yesterday, describing him as an “exceptionally kind man”.
A pal told MailOnline that Upham was a regular swimmer, “very fit” and “knows the waters locally well”.
They added he would be “horrified” at those risking their lives to search for him.
Friends believe Matthew was dragged back along the shore by a wave as he tried to get out of the sea.
Another friend added: “It looks as though Matthew was trying to come out of the water, but was pulled back out and drifted further down the beach.
“We don’t know who the man in his 40s is. We believe he is someone who’d gone to try and help Matthew.”
They described Matthew as a “nice, cheerful man” with “so many friends locally”, adding that it would be the “best Christmas present” to find him safe.
Relatives of the two men have been informed of developments.
Onlookers at the beach revealed their shock at anyone wanting to go into the water, which they described as “treacherous”.
Devon was one of the regions under the umbrella of the Met Office’s yellow weather warning.
Another visitor told how the conditions on the beach had been “treacherous” all day.
Paramedics treated two people at the scene and rushed another to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Local resident Julia Robb, who had been watching swimmers at the beach before the men went missing, said: “It is just awful.”
She said it had been a “very cold and windy” day where the “waves were big, breaking over people and it was jolly”.
Julia said the waves “would have been at least 6ft I would have thought”.
It was only when she later heard helicopters it became clear something was wrong.
Ms Robb added: “It was a sad thing to happen on what had been such a positive morning.
“I just feel sorry for those who have been affected.
“I think it will be shocking for the whole community. We are a small town. People are very friendly.
“I think it is important to think of the friends and families of those who have been affected.”
A number of Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had been cancelled due to a yellow weather warning in place over the region.
The south west region was battered by 65mph winds, with a cold health alert also in place between 4am and midnight.
Met Office officials had also warned of potential disruption to transport and power supplies in some areas.
A warning was in place for the western coast of the UK, with the south-west of England and the majority of Wales also affected.
Issuing an update today, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed both men were still missing.
The force said: “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 is asked to call 101 or report via our website quoting log 191 of 25/12/25.”
The coastguard said: “HM Coastguard responded to reports of people in difficulty in water in the Budleigh Salterton area this morning.
“Alerted at around 10am, Exmouth and Beer Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay and coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were sent to the scene to assist, alongside police and ambulance service.
“Searches have continued throughout the day to find two men believed to still be in the water.
“After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the coastguard part of the search was stood down at 5pm.”
