Body found in hunt for Kate Bush’s ‘very dearest friend’ who got into trouble in the water on Christmas Day
A body has been found in the hunt for Kate Bush’s ‘very dearest friend’ who disappeared in a Christmas Day swim after trying to save a woman in distress.
Antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 64, had gone to the beach on the morning of December 25 off the coast of Budleigh Salterton in Devon.
He was among dozens of others who had taken the cold plunge into the sea – only to get into serious difficulties within seconds due to huge swells caused by high winds.
Devon and Cornwall Police said a body was found near the shore of Exmouth Beach shortly before 3pm on Sunday.
‘Formal identification is yet to take place but the family of a 64-year-old man from Budleigh Salterton have been informed of this development,’ police added.
Mr Upham and a 47-year-old man are feared to have drowned after several other swimmers were pulled from the water by rescuers.
The other man’s body was recovered on Wednesday on the shore at Sandy Bay, Exmouth.
Singer Kate Bush, who had known Mr Upham for 30 years, paid tribute to her ‘very dearest friend’ in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 64, went to the beach on the morning of December 25 off the coast of Budleigh Salterton in Devon
Kate Bush, 67, who has lived in Devon since 2005, shared a tribute to her friend of 30 years – saying he ‘lived life to the full’
Emergency services were called at 10.25am on Christmas Day to the beach at Budleigh Salterton following concern for swimmers in the water
The Running Up That Hill singer wrote on her website: ‘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. It’s so tragic that he lost his life this way.
‘The world has lost someone incredibly special. Thank you, Matthew, for being one of the best friends anyone could have.’
Reports at the time suggested Mr Upham had faced difficulty in the water and had nearly made it back to shore when he spotted a woman in difficulty beyond the surf line.
A friend of 30-years previously told the Mail: ‘Matthew swam back out to reach her but as he did so a huge wave crashed into him and dragged him under. He hasn’t been seen since.
‘He was an exceptionally fit man and someone who swam those waters practically every day but more than that he was an incredibly selfless person.
‘So when he saw that woman in distress, there was only going to be one outcome and that was him swimming straight out to reach her rather than save himself.
‘From what I’ve been told, he’d actually made it out of danger initially and was about to reach the beach but turned back when he saw the woman struggling.
Pictured: Flowers left at the beacher where Mr Upham had gone to the beach with friends on Christmas Day morning for the annual swim
‘His friends who were with him watched him go out to her but when the wave came it was so strong, it just dragged him along, he really didn’t have a chance.
‘The woman eventually made it back to shore but Matthew is still missing and hopes of finding alive are fading fast.
‘I think it’s important that people know that the reason he’s missing is because he went back out to save someone – he was a very strong a swimmer who knew that stretch of coast like the back of his hand and not someone who would recklessly put himself at risk.’
Mr Upham ran his antique business in Fulham for many years before relocating to Devon and specialising in chandeliers. He also appeared in several YouTube videos about antiques.
His family took to social media on Boxing Day to pay tribute to him, and to thank the emergency services for their efforts.
In a statement posted to the Instagram account of his antique shop in Budleigh Salterton, his nephew Major Harley Upham wrote: ‘Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved family member Matthew Upham, who was reported missing on Christmas morning.
‘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.
‘As we grieve and support one another, we kindly ask that our family’s privacy is respected.
‘We thank everyone for their understanding, kindness, and condolences.’
