A mother has died and her 15-year-old daughter remains missing following a devastating incident in the sea off the East Yorkshire coast, police have confirmed.
A Fatal Attempt at Rescue
Humberside Police stated that Sarah Keeling, 45, and her daughter Grace Keeling, 15, got into difficulty in the water at Withernsea on Friday afternoon. The body of Ms Keeling was later recovered. In a tragic turn, 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe, a member of the public who bravely attempted to rescue them, also lost his life.
In an official statement released on Sunday, the force said: "Following reports of concerns for safety for people in the water in Withernsea, with the permission of the family, Humberside Police can now confirm that a mother and daughter... were involved in this tragic incident, alongside 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe, a member of the public who died trying to assist with the rescue."
Search Continues for Missing Teenager
While the bodies of Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe have been found, an extensive search operation is still underway to locate Grace. Police were called to Central Promenade in Withernsea at 3.15pm on Friday. The force has warned that residents will continue to see an increased police presence in the area as efforts to find the missing teenager persist.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene. Karen Higgs, 66, told The Telegraph she saw a person in the water "going in and out with the waves." She recounted how a safety ring was thrown, but the individual was unable to catch it. "We were all shouting at her to catch it, catch it. She just didn't," Ms Higgs said.
Heroic Tribute and Dangerous Conditions
The family of Mark Ratcliffe paid a moving tribute to him, calling him a "true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others."
The perilous sea conditions at the time played a significant role in the tragedy. The local charity Hornsea Inshore Rescue reported on Facebook that it was called to Withernsea but was initially "unable to launch the lifeboat due to horrendous conditions and three-metre waves." A later update confirmed the team had eventually launched on service.
Humberside Police confirmed that the family of Sarah and Grace Keeling are being supported by specially trained officers.
