Kate Bush has paid tribute to her ‘dearest good friend’ who’s feared lifeless following a Christmas Day sea swim.
Matthew Upham, 63, an vintage store proprietor from Devon, went lacking from Budleigh Salterton seaside on Christmas Day after a swim wherein many in attendance received into issue within the water.
It’s feared Upham might have drowned after intensive searches by the coastguard and RNLI discovered no signal of him and one other man, believed to be in his 40s.
The Working Up That Hill singer, 67, has stated she had recognized Upham for 30 years in an emotional message following his disappearance.
‘Matthew was considered one of my dearest pals,’ she stated. ‘He was terribly type, considerate and lived life to the complete.
‘He was additionally quite a lot of enjoyable. His household is heartbroken, and with a lot of his pals, so am I.’
She went on to say that Upham was a ‘very robust swimmer’ and that he ‘understood that the ocean must be revered.’
‘It’s so tragic he misplaced his life this manner,’ Bush continued.
Dearch and rescue operations have now concluded, and the lads stay lacking, Devon and Cornwall Police have stated.
Detective Superintendent Hayley Costar from the drive stated: ‘At present, emergency companies have been responding to a really tragic incident in Budleigh Salterton.
‘Our ideas stay firmly with the households and pals of the 2 males who’re at present lacking and to all who might have witnessed and be impacted by the incident.
‘The local people could have seen a major quantity of emergency companies within the space all through the day as intensive enquiries have been ongoing.
‘As darkish falls, various these searches have been stood down, with some police enquiries on land persevering with this night.
‘There have been climate warnings in place this week, and various official and unofficial swims have already been cancelled.
‘Whereas there aren’t any official warnings in place for tomorrow, we urge anybody with plans to go swimming within the sea on Boxing Day to not.’
A good friend of Upham instructed the Mail on Sunday that the swimmer had gone into the ocean to assist a girl in misery.
‘Matthew swam again out to achieve her however as he did so an enormous wave crashed into him and dragged him below. He hasn’t been seen since,’ they stated.
‘He was an exceptionally match man and somebody who swam these waters virtually daily however greater than that he was an extremely selfless individual.’
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