Kate Bush 'heartbroken' over friend missing at sea
Matthew Upham and another man went missing in the sea in Devon on Christmas Day.
1 hour ago
Zhara SimpsonDevon
AFP
Kate Bush said Matthew Upham was kind, thoughtful and a great deal of fun
Singer-songwriter Kate Bush said she was "heartbroken" after her friend went missing during a Christmas Day swim in Devon.
The 67-year-old Running Up That Hill singer said Matthew Upham, 64, a local antiques dealer, was one of her "very dearest friends" who she had known for 30 years.
It has also emerged that Mr Upham had gone into the sea to help a woman in difficulty, according to a friend.
Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton shortly after 10:25 GMT on 25 December after two men in their 40s and 60s could not be located. The coastguard search operation was called off at about 17:00.
In a tribute on the official Kate Bush website, the singer said: "He [Mr Upham] 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."
She described Mr Upham as a "very strong swimmer" who had a great love for kayaking and understood the sea should be respected.
"It's so tragic that he lost his life this way," Ms Bush said.
"The world has lost someone incredibly special.
"Thank you Matthew, for being one of the best friends anyone could have."
She added: "His family are heartbroken and along with many of his friends, so am I."
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Singer-songwriter Kate Bush described Matthew Upham as one of her dearest friends
Budleigh Salterton dressmaker Gail Williams said her friend Mr Upham "put others before himself on Christmas Day, seeing a woman in trouble Matthew, on true form, went to help along with the other unnamed man".
She said: "They entered the water to save them and sadly paid the price in the place he loved so much.
"It is beyond imaginable what he went through in the sea."
Ms Williams added that Mr Upham was "an accomplished sea swimmer" who spent "hours swimming most days".
"His loss has affected so many far and wide, I know we are all struggling to come to terms with the tragic loss," she said.
"He leaves behind his lovely family and his loving friends, we will forever miss him.
"My heart broke hearing the tragic news on Christmas Day and life will never be quite the same for me without my dear friend in it."
'Forever missed'
The family of Mr Upham issued a statement on his business's Instagram account, describing him as a "beloved" family member.
"Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed," it continued.
"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."
The BBC has approached Devon and Cornwall Police for more information.
The latest update from the force on 26 December at 13:00 GMT was police inquiries were ongoing.
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