Second swimmer lost on Christmas Day named

A second swimmer who went missing during a Christmas Day swim has been named as 47-year old teacher and father-of-two Tom Johnson.

Emergency services searched the area after two men went missing in the sea at Budleigh Salterton, Devon, shortly after 10:25 GMT on Thursday. The coastguard search operation was called off at about 17:00.

Coroner Deborah Archer opened an inquest into the death of Johnson on Wednesday and said his body was found on Sandy Bay, near Exmouth, on 20 January. Johnson, who lived in Chelmsford, Essex, taught PE at the independent boarding New Hall School in the village of Boreham.

The body of antiques dealer Matthew Upham, 63, was found on 25 January.

"Thomas entered the water with other members of the public for a swim at Budleigh Salterton on 25 December," Archer told the Exeter hearing.

"While in the water those watching from the beach lost sight of him and he was not seen to emerge from the water."

She said the precise cause of his death was not yet known.

A fundraiser launched to support the family of Johnson and raised more than £30,000.

The family of the second victim, Upham, said he was "deeply loved and will be forever missed".

According to his friend, singer-songwriter Kate Bush, Upham had gone into the sea to help a woman in difficulty.

The inquest into Upham's death has yet to be opened. The hearing into Johnson, who was born in Boston, Lincs, was adjourned.

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