Girl, 15, and mum in Withernsea sea tragedy named

TRAGIC: Grace Keeling and her mum Sarah Keeling. Pictures provided by Humberside Police

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

A teenage girl and her mum involved in the Withernsea sea tragedy have been named.

Humberside Police have revealed that 15-year-old Grace Keeling and her mum Sarah Keeling, 45, were among those caught up in the incident, alongside 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe.

The bodies of Sarah Keeling and Mr Ratcliffe - a member of the public who died trying to assist with the rescue - were recovered on Friday evening.

Grace has not yet been located.

In a statement released by the police, Mr Ratcliffe’s family said: “A true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others.

“So many lives are now shattered that you’re gone. You were loved by so many people, and we will all miss you forever.

“A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for.

“Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you.”

‘SELFLESS HERO’: Mark Ratcliffe

Emergency services were called to the Central Promenade area of Withernsea at about 3.15pm on Friday, following reports of concern for the safety of people in the water.

HM Coastguard, Humberside Police, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service and Yorkshire Ambulance Service attended, with resources deployed including a coastguard search and rescue helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, and coastguard rescue teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull. 

The RNLI’s inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington also assisted, as well as Hornsea Inshore Rescue, in freezing conditions with rough sea.

On Sunday morning, HM Coastguard confirmed it would not be resuming any further search activity. Officers from Humberside Police remain in the area.