A tragic rescue attempt on the Yorkshire coast has claimed the lives of two people after a teenage girl was swept into a stormy sea.
Desperate Rescue Attempt in Freezing Waters
Emergency services were called to the seaside resort of Withernsea at around 3.15pm on Friday following reports of a number of people in difficulty in the water. The incident began when a girl, believed to be aged about 15, was watching waves crash onto the beach near Pier Towers.
Witnesses described how a massive wave caught the teenager on steps, overwhelming her and pulling her into the rough, freezing sea. It is understood her mother and uncle immediately jumped into the water in a desperate bid to reach her, but they also got into difficulty.
Good Samaritan and Mother Lose Their Lives
In the ensuing chaos, a 67-year-old man, described as a Good Samaritan, joined the rescue effort but was also swept away. Humberside Police confirmed that the man was recovered from the water unconscious shortly before 10pm and died soon after.
Two bodies were later pulled from the sea. While the uncle is believed to have survived, the search for the teenage girl continued into Saturday. However, the operation was called off on Saturday afternoon after being severely hampered by blizzards and sub-zero temperatures.
Paul Whitehead, 60, a local cafe owner, recounted how his staff tried to assist. "One of my staff tried to help her with a life ring. The girl grabbed the ring, but the sea was so rough she couldn't hold on," he said, describing the event as a "tragic accident."
Coastal Danger Amid Nationwide Freeze
The tragedy in East Yorkshire occurred as the UK grapples with a severe cold snap. Arctic air has plunged temperatures across the country, with overnight lows expected to reach minus double figures in some areas. The Met Office has issued warnings for snow and ice, predicting disruption to travel and a risk of power cuts.
This incident follows another coastal tragedy on New Year's Day, where a 51-year-old man from Kettering died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Brighton. The consecutive events have highlighted the dangers posed by rough seas, particularly during extreme weather conditions.
Multiple emergency services, including HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police, and Humberside Fire and Rescue, attended the Withernsea incident. The HM Coastguard helicopter was also deployed during the search operation.
