Overview
- Devon and Cornwall Police say both men remain unaccounted for as of 28 December, after HM Coastguard stood down offshore searches at about 5pm on Christmas Day.
- Family have identified one missing swimmer as 63-year-old antiques dealer Matthew Upham and shared a public tribute thanking rescue services for their efforts.
- Survivor Mike Brown says two bystanders dragged him to safety in what he called some of the worst conditions he has ever faced, with reported 6ft swells and wind gusts up to 65mph under a Met Office yellow warning.
- Reports indicate the second missing man, understood to be in his 40s, may have gone to help during the incident, and a friend says Upham had turned back to try to aid a woman; these accounts have not been officially confirmed.
- The festive dip is an informal local tradition with no lifeguards, and an RNLI lifeboat present on a training exercise responded to the emergency as officials urged people to avoid holiday swims given hazardous sea conditions.