Always respect the power of nature, particularly the sea.

There are deep shelves at Budleigh where the pebbles suddenly dip down several feet putting you out of your depth. That combined with those massive waves would have made it extremely dangerous. One of those who died was very bravely trying to rescue the older man who died. What a terrible tragedy. Why do people persist in ignoring advice? It was a heavy price to pay. Their families must be devastated.

I take the point about personal freedom but on the other hand, what about the emergency services- mountain rescue, coastguards, lifeboats etc who involve themselves in considerable risk to rescue those who may have ignored warnings or set off inadequately prepared?
Is it fair to put them at even more risk?
I don’t know the ins and outs of sea wild swimming or indeed climbing Snowdon, or indeed if there was a failure of common sense in this case, but to go back to the thread title- never underestimate Nature.

It's my understanding that people who do mountain rescue, coastguards, lifeboats are all volunteers - ie not compelled to take risks. That's not something I'd do personally - as I'm not a risk-taker (well not in that sort of way - mine is in a very different way). I guess there's a sort of camaraderie involved in communal risk-taking like that - unlike those of us that just want to stay somewhere comfortable and in the warm....but certainly do things in different ways that a lot of other people seem to regard as "taking risks".

Though I would agree one can't underestimate Nature and I do look at people who walk out on piers and the like in stormy weather (and some of them come a cropper as a consequence) and don't understand why they feel so invincible that they don't think a wave might come along and swipe them one. As for those people in, say, America that "chase tornadoes" = very much rather them than me....and I don't want to know about mountaineering, travelling in countries that hate women (eg Afghanistan), etc.

I guess it's the "Yay - I managed it" sense of achievement.

Firstly RIP the known and unknown (presumably) deceased. Those who love them must be reeling from shock.
I agree with all the posters that have said that good advice was , very unfortunately, not taken notice of.
I consider myself a strong swimmer and an enthusiastic sea swimmer but the power of waves is terrifying.
I first experienced it on a quick break in Tenerife in a relatively protected bay near the beach.
The waves' power not only knocked me off my feet and turned me upside down in the water , it also slammed grains of the black sand through to the inside of the mesh of my swimsuit. There some of them stayed until the demise of the swimsuit as I couldn't get them out.
Sad , sad day.

It is, indeed, tragic, but why did these people ignore the danger? Not only has this foolhardiness had the worst of consequences, sadly, but their actions also put at risk the lives of those who venture out to try to rescue them. I’m afraid there was a terrible lack of common sense.

Ziplok

It is, indeed, tragic, but why did these people ignore the danger? Not only has this foolhardiness had the worst of consequences, sadly, but their actions also put at risk the lives of those who venture out to try to rescue them. I’m afraid there was a terrible lack of common sense.

Difficult to argue with that , Ziplock.

RosieandherMaw

I take the point about personal freedom but on the other hand, what about the emergency services- mountain rescue, coastguards, lifeboats etc who involve themselves in considerable risk to rescue those who may have ignored warnings or set off inadequately prepared?
Is it fair to put them at even more risk?
I don’t know the ins and outs of sea wild swimming or indeed climbing Snowdon, or indeed if there was a failure of common sense in this case, but to go back to the thread title- never underestimate Nature.

Exactly this.

One of the men still missing has been named. He was a local antiques dealer.

The man who was rescued said

Mike Brown, 60, who has lived in Budleigh Salterton for nearly 30 years, said the sea conditions on Thursday were the worst he had ever seen.

After entering the sea and being "unable to get out", Mr Brown said he only made it out with the help of "two very brave men" and sustained small injuries.

He said: "After successive waves crashing me into the stones, I managed to get into relatively shallow water, but I was spent.
I had no energy left to stand and I'd taken a number of blows to the head."

Christmas Day was very windy indeed.

This is a tragic event but I'm not sure that events like this should be cancelled on Health and Safety grounds although perhaps there should be risk assessment and due diligence beforehand.

It's my understanding that people who do mountain rescue, coastguards, lifeboats are all volunteers - ie not compelled to take risks. That's not something I'd do personally - as I'm not a risk-taker (well not in that sort of way - mine is in a very different way). I guess there's a sort of camaraderie involved in communal risk-taking like that - unlike those of us that just want to stay somewhere comfortable and in the warm....but certainly do things in different ways that a lot of other people seem to regard as "taking risks ".
Blimey.
It sounds as if you are saying “Serves them right for volunteering” when lifeboats go down or mountain rescuers fall to their death or freeze on a mountain top!
Yes they may be volunteers, but they do not have the choice of who they rescue- the foolhardy and ill prepared or genuinely unlucky.
We should be bliddy grateful they are there at all and NOT endanger THEIR lives by personal “freedom” aka stupidity.
I would reiterate - if there are sharks off an Australian beach - you don’t swim, if the waves are 6’ high and winds at 65 mph off the Devon coast - especially a beach with a known undertow- you don’t swim
It should be obvious to anybody.

Ziplok

It is, indeed, tragic, but why did these people ignore the danger? Not only has this foolhardiness had the worst of consequences, sadly, but their actions also put at risk the lives of those who venture out to try to rescue them. I’m afraid there was a terrible lack of common sense.

Exactly, hear, hear.

We should be bliddy grateful they are there at all and NOT endanger THEIR lives by personal “freedom” aka stupidity.

It is 41 years and just over one week since the Penlee Lifeboat disaster when the crew of the lifeboat Solomon Browne lost their lives trying to rescue the crew of the Union Star. Sixteen lives were lost.
The weather and waves were treacherous.

Allira
We were talking about that yesterday😥

One of the family who were hosting us this Christmas in the Wirral did go for a sea swim on Christmas Day, but the sea was flat calm, clear blue sky, no wind. It was still bloody freezing though - I thought he was very brave! 🥶🥶

I was reading yesterday that the second man in his 40's drowned whilst trying to rescue the older man who was in difficulties.

Sarnia

I was reading yesterday that the second man in his 40's drowned whilst trying to rescue the older man who was in difficulties.

Yes, it's what people as a community do. Unfortunately a split decision here to help someone when the conditions should have said don't, but understandable if true.

There were people coming out bleeding, crying, missing shoes, etc and onlookers with no training rushed to them with robes, drinks and support. I think I instinctively would have.

According to DM the older man went in to help another swimmer, then got into trouble himself.

Those shingle beaches can be especially dangerous as the waves can pull the shingle leaving deep holes and push it into high banks making coming out of the water impossible.

It was a tragic occasion which should have been avoided. No swimming should have taken place in those conditions.

My DD2 knows the older man and says a kinder more considerate man you couldn't hope to meet. Very sad for everyone.

Not just the sea. Mountains too.
Two walkers were rescued from Britain’s second highest mountain in -15C temperatures while wearing trainers and jogging bottoms.
The men in their 20s had set off at 6pm on Tuesday to climb 4,295ft Ben Macdui, in the Cairngorms, Scotland. Two and a half hours after beginning the hike they called for help.
They were rescued by 13 volunteers from the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team.

Ian Cornfoot, the rescue team’s leader, said: “They wouldn’t have survived the night with what they were wearing. One was suffering from hypothermia. He was in a bad way. The other was also very cold.

“They were three metres apart, about 1,050 metres up. It was -15C with the wind chill. One was also in a very precarious position. If he had slipped, he would have gone a long way and would have suffered serious injuries.