Cousins, 24, drown after being swept off Devon rocks by 20ft waves

Two 24-year-old cousins, Jordan O'Rourke and Luke Keyte-Rigby, drowned after being swept off rocks by 20-foot waves at Oddicombe Beach, Torquay, in May 2023. An eyewitness reported seeing the men climb high rocks before both were knocked into the sea by large waves, prompting a major rescue operation. O'Rourke was declared dead at the scene, while Keyte-Rigby died in hospital hours later. Police found empty alcohol containers and cannabis at the site, and toxicology tests revealed both men had consumed alcohol and taken cocaine and cannabis beforehand, which may have impaired their judgment. The coroner concluded their deaths were due to misadventure and noted that neither cousin informed family of their plans, with one not being a strong swimmer. The incident highlights the dangers of combining substance use with risky behavior near the sea.