A major search and rescue operation off the East Yorkshire coast was formally concluded on Saturday afternoon, following a tragic incident that has claimed two lives with a third person still missing.
Search Operation Concluded
HM Coastguard confirmed it stood down its extensive search effort around Withernsea at approximately 4pm on Saturday, January 3. The operation had resumed that morning, focusing on shoreline searches for one missing individual. Multiple agencies, including Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue, had been involved in the response since the incident began on Friday.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Emergency services were first called to Central Promenade in Withernsea at 3.15pm on Friday. According to reports, the tragedy unfolded when a teenage girl was reportedly washed away in the rough sea near the Pier Towers concrete steps. Witnesses described a desperate attempt by her parents and bystanders to save her.
Paul Whitehead, owner of the Castle Cafe on the promenade, stated that one of his staff threw a life ring to the girl. "The young girl had hold of the ring but was hit by a wave and couldn't hold on and went under," he said. Four local men then also went down to assist the parents.
Another witness, Karen Higgs, 66, recounted seeing the girl in the water and the unsuccessful attempt with the safety ring. "She was going out as the ring went in... We were all shouting at her to catch it. She just didn't," Ms Higgs told reporters.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
The rescue effort was significant and faced severe challenges. Humberside Police confirmed a 67-year-old man was pulled unconscious from the water and died at the scene. A second body was recovered on Friday evening. The circumstances surrounding both deaths are not believed to be suspicious.
The coastguard deployed a wide range of assets, including:
- A rescue helicopter.
- Coastguard rescue teams from Withernsea, Hornsea, and Hull.
- An RNLI inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and an all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington.
- Hornsea Inshore Rescue.
Local charity Hornsea Inshore Rescue noted on social media that they were initially "unable to launch the lifeboat due to horrendous conditions and three-metre waves" on Friday, highlighting the dangerous sea state. They later managed to launch.
Police have continued to ask the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work safely and efficiently. The community of Withernsea is left mourning a devastating loss following the fatal incident on its coastline.
