Devastated locals have questioned why an annual Christmas Day swim in Devon was ‘allowed’ to go ahead in stormy conditions as two men remain missing after being swept out to sea.

A poignant photograph captured the moment a traditional dip turned to disaster as high winds of up to 65mph created huge swells and dragged several swimmers under the water at Budleigh Salterton yesterday morning. Many had to be pulled to safety back onto shore.

Despite a widespread search and rescue effort, two wild swimmers – one in his 40s and the other in his 60s – have still not been found after entering the water off the coast of Devon just before 10.25am on Thursday.

Exmouth and Beer Coastguard rescue teams, RNLI lifeboats and a search and rescue helicopter were deployed – and have issued an urgent warning to swimmers to stay away from similar swims today.

Anger is now growing at the decision to allow the event to go ahead yesterday despite the stormy conditions – though it is understood the gathering is more of a tradition rather than a formally organised event.

The RNLI attend in many cases, but the risk to participate is placed on individuals taking part.

Residents living in communities near to the tragedy have expressed their concern for the families of the missing men – but have also questioned why public officials could not shut the event down if conditions were deemed too dangerous to swim. 

Others highlighted the risks placed on emergency services sent out to help in the search. One RNLI crew abandoned their vessel due to the ‘extremely difficult’ conditions yesterday, with the boat only recovered this morning.

As one resident warned: ‘The sea isn’t Center Parcs. It’s more powerful than any of us and as generations of sailors in this town will attest, it’s a cruel mistress’.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added on their social media post that had the event been under the control of a public authority, costs for security, event management and public safety personnel could have topped £10,000.

But while yesterday’s event was free, it was also considered ‘unofficial’.

The resident wrote: ‘The Boxing Day Swim has no such controls – it’s open to all-comers, any age, any ability, drunk or sober, undiagnosed health conditions or not. We can’t tell – people just turn up and run into the water. 

‘They don’t give their names and certainly don’t sign a waiver. It’s never been ‘organised’ and yet, people ‘think’ it’s organised: there are no controls; there are no authorities in attendance to take over should something bad happen; and of course, there is no a** to kick if something goes wrong.

‘There are no formal first aiders, there’s no lifeguard or lifeboat cover. If someone gets cold water shock, or cramps, or just falls and hits their head, there’s nothing in place.’

A second expressed on social media: ‘Why was this even allowed?’ 

Another said: ‘[It] should never have gone ahead. No respect for the emergency services or for their own safety.’

One familiar with the coastline said: ‘The sea at Budleigh today was treacherous with huge waves and dangerous currents. Nobody should have been swimming there.’

In an update this morning, HM Coastguard told Daily Mail the two men remain missing.

A spokesperson said: ‘HM Coastguard responded to reports of people in difficulty in water in the Budleigh Salterton area yesterday, 25 December. 

‘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 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.’

RNLI Teignmouth also revealed in an update today that the ‘challenging conditions’ had prevented one lifeboat from returning back to its station until this morning. 

In a statement, the crew – who went out with volunteers from RNLI Exmouth and RNLI Torbay – said: ‘Our thoughts remain with all those impacted by the incident and the family and friends of the two people who are missing.

‘Conditions at sea were extremely difficult and cold for the crew involved in the search who were out all day.

‘Following the shout, Teignmouth boat volunteer crew headed to Torbay for recovery, as challenging conditions prevented the lifeboat from returning directly to Teignmouth Lifeboat Station.’ 

Devon and Cornwall Police has meanwhile confirmed a police presence remains at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.

The force also reminded people wanting to go for a Boxing Day swim to stay away from the water.

Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said in a statement yesterday: ‘There have been weather warnings in place this week and a number of official and un-official swims have already been cancelled. 

‘While there are no official warnings in place for tomorrow, we urge anyone with plans to go swimming in the sea on Boxing Day not to.’

Teignmouth RNLI issued a statement confirming the Boxing Day Walk In The Sea had been cancelled. 

‘We kindly ask that people don’t take part independently,’ it reminded locals on social media.

As events unfolded yesterday, swimmers were asked not to take part in the nearby Exmouth’s Christmas Day swim while the incident was dealt with. 

‘We ask that people do not enter the water for public safety reasons. Due to the current weather warnings, we ask that this is the case today and for any Boxing Day swims,’ a police spokesman said.

Police said one of the missing men’s next of kin had been spoken to but enquiries to reach the family of the second man were ongoing. They added that a local friend had been informed.

Several Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled on Wednesday after a yellow weather warning was issued.

The Met Office warned of ‘strong and gusty east to north-easterly winds’ on Christmas Day in parts of the south-west of England and Wales. It said peak gusts could reach 55 to 65mph along exposed coasts, warning: ‘Large waves will be an additional hazard on some coasts.’

Despite the poor weather, hundreds of revellers entered the sea in east Devon. The alarm was raised soon afterwards, and a major rescue effort was launched.

The search for the two men was called off for the day at 5pm.

BBC journalist Phillip Stoneman, who has been a visitor to Budleigh for the swim for the past few years, said: ‘As soon as we arrived, you could tell that the sea was the roughest it’s been and that anyone going in would need to be a lot more cautious than usual.

‘The waves swept some people exiting the sea off their feet and other swimmers were helping them out.’

He said the RNLI boat was out in the water at the time and hundreds of people were either on the beach or in the water.

Melissa Hill, who was visiting the town for Christmas, said: ‘The coastguards have cordoned off part of the path where the swimmers set off from. They are overlooking the area where this happened. It is such an awful thing to have happened. There is no good time to die, but Christmas Day is so terrible.

‘The conditions are dreadful. The sea is cold, the wind is strong, and the waves are crashing in. I can’t believe anyone went into the water when it was like this.’

A local pensioner, who did not want to be named, said as many as four people were initially believed to be missing.

‘We went to the scene and we were told four people were missing. I don’t know if that figure is still correct.

‘But the conditions have been treacherous all day. There is nothing to protect swimmers from the elements here today.’

A coastguard worker at the scene said: ‘This was a major response. We have had multi helicopters, lifeboats and coastguards on scene.’ 

It came as wild swimmers were warned after shipping containers of bananas fell overboard from a cargo ship off the Isle of Wight.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said 16 containers had fallen into the sea from the Baltic Klipper off Bembridge on December 6. 

Some containers had washed up at Selsey, West Sussex, it added. Now Arun District Council has warned that metal fragments may be in the water. The council posted on Facebook: ‘If you are planning a festive swim this year, please take extra care along our beaches.

‘Following the recent shipping container incident, there may still be metal fragments in the sea along our coastline. Please stay safe and if you see anyone in difficulty in the water, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’