A second body has been recovered from the sea off Withernsea, East Yorkshire, as the search continues for a third missing person. Humberside Police confirmed the body was retrieved on Friday evening, following the earlier recovery of a 67-year-old man who was pulled unconscious from the water but later died.
Emergency services were called to the area just after 3pm on Friday. The search was suspended at 12.30am on Saturday but resumed at dawn, with HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and Humberside Fire and Rescue involved. Coastguard teams are conducting additional searches of the area.
Police have stated that the circumstances surrounding both deaths are not believed to be suspicious. They have urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work safely and efficiently.
The rescue operation took place in 'horrendous conditions', with waves reportedly reaching nearly 3 metres (10ft). A local photographer described the weather as bitter and freezing, noting the sea was very dangerous. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued advice warning of the risks of cold water shock, particularly as average sea temperatures around the UK and Ireland are currently between 6°C and 10°C.
Gareth Morrison, RNLI head of water safety, urged anyone entering the water to be aware of the dangers, check sea conditions, and understand their limitations. This incident follows the death of a 51-year-old man who died in the sea at Brighton on New Year's Day.
