It comes after two men – a man in his 40s and antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 64 – were reported missing from a swim at Budleigh Salterton in Devon on Christmas Day.
The full tragic sequence of what unfolded has yet to be made public but the men remain missing, presumed dead.
It has been reported that Mr Upham attempted to rescue a woman in distress before being swept away himself.
A statement from Furness Coastguard said: “We are a coastal community and as such have many, very experienced, beach goers and sea swimmers and several sea swimming groups, who are extremely responsible and understand when the risk is too high to swim.
“However, we also understand the temptation for newcomers and non-regular swimmers to take to the sea as part of the holiday’s events.
“For Thursday (New Year’s Day) the forecast and the tide times are frankly not looking ideal for a sea swim. The high tides are early in the morning and late at night while it is still dark.
“There is also strong North Westerly winds forecast which may stir up quite strong waves. Even if it looks settled at first the conditions can quickly change under such weather and are very unpredictable.”
“Right now the water is around 7.2°C and the air temperature feels like 3°C with the wind chill, your body will cool very quickly once you’re wet.
“Cold water shock can affect anyone, even confident swimmers and knowing in plenty of time when to leave the water is essential.”
The coastguard issued advice for anyone planning a swim:
● Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
● Try to join and organised event.
● Don’t go alone — go with others who can keep an eye on you, and/or in an area where experienced local groups are swimming.
● Check the weather and tide times before you set out. Most experienced groups only swim an hour or so before High Tide.
● Take warm clothes, a hot drink, and a phone with a waterproof case.
● Wear the right kit if you have it (wetsuit, gloves/boots, bright cap) it is wise to use a tow float (as you can see the experienced swimmers in these photos using).
● Pick a safe spot to enter the water, with an easy exit and check conditions (tide, wind, swell).
● Enter the water slowly and never jump in. Walk in, let your breathing settle and swim when you feel in control and comfortable.
● Stay within your limits. Swim parallel to the shore, know when it’s time to get out and get out before you feel yourself starting to shiver.
● Never mix cold water and alcohol, and don’t try to ‘push through’ shivering or numbness.
If you or someone else gets into trouble, remember Float to Live:
● Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged.
● Relax and try to breathe normally.
● Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat.
● It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently.
● If you see someone else struggling in water – Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
● Tell the person to relax and float on their back.
● Throw something buoyant to help them stay afloat.
If you are in difficulty or you see someone in difficulty: call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
