Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Cold Health Alert Issued for South-West England as Police Urge Boxing Day Sea Swimmers to Stay Out

Two men remain missing after a Christmas Day incident off Budleigh Salterton.

Overview

  • The UK Health Security Agency has a yellow cold-health alert in place for south‑west England until noon on 27 December due to increased risks for vulnerable people.
  • The Met Office forecasts overnight frost and a dry but chilly Boxing Day with highs around 6–7C, feeling closer to 4–5C in the south, and only a low chance of snow.
  • Devon and Cornwall Police asked people not to enter the sea on Boxing Day even though there are no official weather warnings for that day.
  • Following extensive shoreline and offshore searches off Budleigh Salterton, HM Coastguard stood down its operation at 5pm on Christmas Day with two men still unaccounted for.
  • RNLI crews recovered one person from the water, and ambulance teams took one patient to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and treated two others at the scene.