A man in his 60s and a second person have died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Withernsea, East Yorkshire, as emergency services continue to search for a missing teenage girl.
Humberside Police confirmed that a 67-year-old man was recovered unconscious from the water at around 3.15pm on Friday, 2 January 2026, and died shortly afterwards. A second body was later retrieved by lifeboats. Witnesses reported that the tragedy unfolded after a teenage girl fell into the sea.
Karen Higgs, a witness, told The Telegraph that people on the shore threw a safety ring but the girl did not catch it. Paul Whitehead, owner of Castle Cafe, estimated the girl to be around 15 years old and said she was 'washed away' by rough waves despite help from four men and her parents.
Humberside Police stated that the circumstances of the deaths are not thought to be suspicious and that searches are ongoing for one more missing person. They asked the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work safely.
HM Coastguard confirmed that extensive shoreline and offshore searches were suspended at 12.30am on Saturday, 3 January, and will resume at first light with coastguard rescue teams and partner agencies.
