Kate Bush has expressed her profound sorrow, stating she is “heartbroken” after her friend disappeared during a Christmas Day swim in Devon.
Matthew Upham, a 63-year-old antiques dealer, remains missing following a large-scale rescue operation initiated on Christmas Day morning in the seaside town of Budleigh Salterton. The alarm was raised after several individuals encountered difficulties in the stormy water.
While numerous swimmers were successfully pulled from the challenging conditions and received medical attention – some requiring hospitalisation as a precaution – two men, one in his forties and another in his sixties, could not be located.
The 67-year-old “Running Up That Hill” artist confirmed the news on her website on Sunday, writing: “As you might have heard on the news, Matthew Upham was one of the swimmers who went missing in the sea in Devon on Christmas Day.”
“Matthew was one of my very dearest friends. I’d known him for 30 years. He was one of those people who touched everyone he met.
“He was extraordinarily kind, thoughtful and lived life to the full. He was also a great deal of fun. His family are heartbroken and along with many of his friends, so am I.
“Matthew was a very strong swimmer. He had a great love for kayaking. He understood that the sea should be respected.”
The Daily Mail reported Mr Upham had tried to save a woman in distress before being swept away.
Bush added: “The world has lost someone incredibly special. Thank you, Matthew, for being one of the best friends anyone could have.”
A statement posted to the Instagram account of Mr Upham’s business said his family are “heartbroken by the loss”.
It added: “Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed.
“We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the emergency services who responded, particularly the RNLI and coastguard, for their dedication, professionalism, and tireless efforts during this extremely difficult time. We are profoundly grateful for their compassion and support.”
Commenting on the post, a friend of the antiques dealer described Mr Upham as “the kindest person”.
They wrote: “The world will miss such a shining star.”
Another described him as “a beautiful man with the sweetest soul and only had kind words to say about everyone”, while another said he was “a bringer of joy and an inspiration”.
According to his website, which linked to the Instagram account, Mr Upham ran appointment-only Matthew Upham Antiques on the town’s high street.
The business traded for four decades in London before moving to the seaside town.
In a Facebook post shared on Thursday afternoon, East Devon District Council urged locals to “think twice before taking the plunge this festive season”.
The local authority said cold water shock, strong currents and unpredictable weather conditions can turn a “quick dip into a serious emergency”.
The coastguard said after “extensive shoreline and offshore searches”, its search was stood down at 5pm on Christmas Day.
Devon and Cornwall Police have previously said the families of the men were being kept informed of developments.
On Boxing Day, a police spokesperson said “both men remain missing” following the incident and “inquiries are ongoing”.
A number of Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled this year because of a yellow weather warning for wind which covered parts of the South West and Wales.
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