Kate Bush has said she is 'heartbroken' after her close friend Matthew Upham went missing during a Christmas Day swim off the Devon coast. The 67-year-old singer confirmed that the antiques dealer was one of two men still unaccounted for following a major rescue operation in the seaside town of Budleigh Salterton. Emergency services were called on Christmas morning after swimmers got into difficulty in stormy conditions, with several people rescued and treated by paramedics. Despite extensive shoreline and offshore searches, Mr Upham, 63, remains missing.
In a statement shared on her website, Bush described Mr Upham as 'one of my very dearest friends', saying she had known him for 30 years. 'He was extraordinarily kind, thoughtful and lived life to the full,' she wrote, adding that he was a strong swimmer who had a deep respect for the sea and a love of kayaking. Reports suggest Mr Upham attempted to help a woman in distress before being swept away. 'The world has lost someone incredibly special,' Bush added, paying tribute to his warmth, generosity and spirit.
