Photos and footage show the conditions swimmers faced at a beach in the South West as a Christmas Day dip escalated into a major incident.
The annual event, at Budleigh Salterton beach in Devon, took a tragic turn yesterday morning (December 25) as people got into trouble in the water, with emergency services including the coastguard and the RNLI launching a rescue operation.
A number of people were safely recovered to shore and were checked by paramedics or taken to hospital as a precaution.
But two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were not located during extensive searches and remain missing at sea.
The searches were paused at around 5pm with their families informed of developments.
Devon and Cornwall Police urged people to reconsider taking part in Boxing Day swims today in the wake of the incident.
Witnesses described the horror of the events that unfolded with one estimating the waves to be "almost 10ft".
One witness, who responded to a Facebook post from the RNLI, said: "We watched aghast at Budleigh.
"The life boat crews are complete heroes."
"We could see the helicopter and boat out there looking for them," said a neighbour in a house overlooking the sea, whilst another added: "Thinking of all the crews and families involved with today's incident, and sending love."
Images and videos have now emerged showing powerful waves crashing against the beach, which was lined with spectators at the time.
One video shared with DevonLive shows people laughing and cheering as a crowd of swimmers ran into the water, then gasps from onlookers as a huge wave powered through the human wall of people.
As more big waves battered the shore, screams can be heard from the water.
People can then be seen running for the sand, with several stopping to offer a hand to those who had been knocked down in the waves.
Other photos show lifeboats battling the waves in order to reach people who had been swept out to sea.
A spokesperson for the RNLI said yesterday: "We can confirm that this morning at approximately 10am, RNLI lifeboat crew from Exmouth, Torbay and Teignmouth were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist in a multiagency incident involving people in difficulty in the water in the Budleigh Salterton area.
"RNLI lifeboat crews were involved in the recovery of one person from the water and continued to search throughout the day for two people understood to still be in the water.
"All lifeboat crew were stood down by the Coastguard around 5pm, when they returned to stations.
"Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the incident and the family and friends of the two people who are missing."
A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said it was called at 10.10am to "reports of people in difficulty in the sea". Two people were treated at the scene and one person was taken to hospital.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar said last night: "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."