A SWIMMER saved from rough waves after a cold dip on Devon’s coast turned into a nightmare with two lost at sea says it was a ‘mistake’ to enter the water.
Mike Brown, 60, was rescued by two bystanders while struggling to stay afloat due to the terrible conditions during the traditional Christmas Day swim.
Two other men are still missing after being swept out to sea as “treacherous” waves struck the festive event at Budleigh Salterton, Devon.
Antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 63, is feared dead, as is a second man believed to have been trying to rescue him.
Mike was saved by two local men who rushed into the water with their clothes on to help get him to safety.
“These two men without any concern for their own safety waded in to help me,” he said.
Mike added: “They took an arm each and dragged me to safety and as quick as it had started, it was over, I was on the beach and I was safe.”
After entering the sea, Mike was “unable to get out” and feared the worse.
“After successive waves crashing me into the stones, I managed to get into relatively shallow water, but I was spent,” he said.
“I had no energy left to stand and I’d taken a number of blows to the head.”
Having lived in Budleigh Slateron for nearly three decades, Mike told the BBC: “It was much worse conditions than normal and some of the worst conditions I’ve ever tried to swim in.
“With hindsight it was clearly a mistake to try and get in.”
The swimmer sustained minor injures to his head.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing 6ft waves while wind gusts reaching 65mph at the local beach on Thursday.
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.
Emergency crews were scrambled to the popular seafront at around 10.25am following concern for swimmers in the water.
And RNLI rescue teams could be seen battling huge waves as they helped scoured the water along the Jurassic Coast.
Helicopters and lifeboats could be seen carrying out “extensive” shoreline and offshore searches.
Two men who also took part in the swim are still missing and feared dead.
Beloved antiques dealer Matthew Upham vanished during the event.
In an Instagram statement, his family identified their loved one as the missing swimmer.
They said 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 second man in his 40s, who has not yet been identified, is feared to have drowned trying to rescue him.
