A 67-year-old man who died trying to rescue a mother and daughter swept out to sea in East Yorkshire has been hailed as a hero. Mark Ratcliffe entered the water at Withernsea on January 2 after 15-year-old Grace Keeling was pulled from the promenade by a wave, an inquest heard.
Grace's mother, Sarah Keeling, 45, also drowned as she attempted to reach her daughter. The inquest in Hull heard how the teenager and a friend had been taking photos with the sea spray behind them when a wave swept Grace away 'in a blink'.
The friend, who cannot be named, told the court: 'We were laughing and taking videos... I turned round and, in like a split second, Grace was gone. It happened as quick as a blink.' She said Sarah Keeling arrived and 'freaking out' before entering the water.
Mr Ratcliffe's body was recovered the same afternoon, along with Mrs Keeling's. Grace's body was found 13 days later trapped among boulders used for sea defences. Coroner Lorraine Harris heard that at least three other people also entered the water to help.
The inquest was told the sea was too rough to launch a lifeboat, with waves reaching 12ft high. Mr Ratcliffe's grandchildren 'will grow up knowing their granddad was a hero', the court heard.
