Two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, remain missing at sea after getting into difficulty off a beach in Devon on Christmas Day.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am after concerns for people in the water, with a number safely taken to shore.
However, despite extensive searches, the two men remained missing, before the coastguard and RNLI searches concluded in the area in the evening.
Their families have been informed of developments, a spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said.
A Met Office yellow weather warning for wind was in place across parts of the South West and Wales on Christmas Day.
No warnings have been issued for Boxing Day but police urged people not to go swimming in the sea.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “Today, emergency services have been responding to a truly tragic incident in Budleigh Salterton.
“Our thoughts remain firmly with the families and friends of the two men who are currently missing and to all who may have witnessed and be impacted by the incident. The local community will have seen a significant amount of emergency services in the area throughout the day as extensive enquiries have been ongoing.
“As dark falls, a number of these searches have been stood down, with some police enquiries on land continuing this evening.”
HM Coastguard said it had responded to reports of “people in difficulty” in the water in the Budleigh Salterton area.
Coastguard rescue teams from Exmouth and Beer attended, along with RNLI lifeboats from Exmouth, Teignmouth and Torbay.
They were assisted by coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, along with police and ambulance personnel.
“Searches have 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,” a spokeswoman said.
A spokesperson for the RNLI said: ““Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident and the family and friends of the two people who are missing.”
A number of Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall were cancelled this year because of a yellow weather warning for wind.
The Met Office warned of “strong and gusty east to northeasterly winds” from 4am until 11.59pm on Christmas Day in parts of south-west England and Wales. It said peak gusts would reach 45-55mph but these could reach 55-65mph along some exposed coasts and to the west of prominent hills.
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