A major emergency operation is underway on the Yorkshire coast after two people were recovered from the sea and a search continues for a third. The incident occurred in the seaside town of Withernsea in East Yorkshire on Friday afternoon.
Major Emergency Response Launched
The alarm was raised just after 3pm on Friday 2 January 2026 following reports of a number of people in difficulty in the water. A large-scale search and rescue mission was immediately coordinated by HM Coastguard.
Multiple agencies swiftly responded, including Coastguard search and rescue helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and rescue teams from Withernsea, Hornsea, and Hull. The RNLI launched its inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and an all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington. Yorkshire Ambulance Service, including an air ambulance, Humberside Police, and Humberside Fire and Rescue also attended the scene.
Bodies Recovered Amid Treacherous Conditions
Humberside Police confirmed that a 67-year-old man died after being pulled from the sea on Friday evening. Later, the force announced a second body had been recovered. A police spokesperson stated the circumstances are not believed to be suspicious.
The search efforts have been severely hampered by dangerous sea conditions. In a social media post, Hornsea Inshore Rescue reported being unable to launch its lifeboat due to "horrendous conditions and three metre waves" breaking on their slipway. The crew instead sent a 4x4 vehicle with a casualty care team to assist in Withernsea.
Local resident Darren Stevens described the conditions to the BBC as "bitter" and "freezing," noting it had snowed earlier. "It's not a good place to be in the sea," he added.
Ongoing Search and Public Appeal
As of late Friday evening, the intensive search operation remains active, with emergency services continuing to look for one more person who is believed to have entered the water. All relevant agencies remain at the scene.
Authorities have issued a strong plea to the public. A Humberside Police spokesperson said: "We continue to ask that people avoid the area to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely." Similarly, Humberside Fire and Rescue asked people to avoid the central promenade area of Withernsea due to the high volume of emergency vehicle movement.
The multi-agency response underscores the severity of the incident and the challenging environment facing rescue teams as they work along the East Yorkshire coastline.
