A man who died while trying to help others in the sea off the coast at Withernsea has been named as 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe, as police continue their inquiries into the tragedy.
Mr Ratcliffe died on Friday, January 2, after entering the water during a major emergency response on the central promenade. His family are being supported by specially trained officers.
Police have also confirmed that the body of a 45-year-old woman was recovered from the sea. Her identity has not been released.
A third person remains missing.
Paying tribute to Mr Ratcliffe, his family described him as “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,” the tribute said.
“A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for. Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you.”
Mr Ratcliffe’s family have requested that their privacy and time to grieve is respected, and that they will not be making any further comment at this time.
The search operation off the coast at Withernsea was fully stood down by HM Coastguard at about 4pm on Saturday, January 3, with police now leading the ongoing investigation.
Emergency services had resumed shoreline searches on Saturday morning for the remaining missing person, but coastguard-led search activity was later concluded. Officers from Humberside Police remain in the area as inquiries continue.
Police have urged caution around unverified accounts of events, after inaccurate details circulated in the wider media, and have stressed that confirmed information will be released when appropriate.
The Methodist Church in Hull Road, Withernsea, was open on Sunday morning for a “quiet, prayerful and reflective” service as the community remembered “the tragic events of the last 48 hours, the lives that have been lost, and the grieving families and friends”.
“All will be welcome to come and spend this gentle time with us, in quietness, in prayer or just to be around other folk, at this time of great loss,” said the Revd Ian Greenfield.
The major emergency response was first launched on Friday afternoon after reports of people in difficulty in the water off the central promenade at Withernsea.
Police were called to the scene at around 3.15pm, with HM Coastguard confirming the first alert was received at about 3.10pm. A large multi-agency operation was quickly deployed, involving police, fire, ambulance and maritime rescue services.
Assets sent to the scene included coastguard search and rescue helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Withernsea, Hornsea, Hull and Bridlington, RNLI lifeboats from Withernsea and Bridlington, and Hornsea Inshore Rescue. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and an air ambulance were also in attendance.
Conditions at the time were described as severe, with freezing temperatures, a strong incoming tide and rough seas. Hornsea Inshore Rescue later reported waves of around three metres breaking on the slipway, making it too dangerous for a launch, although its vehicle and volunteers were present to support the wider response.
As daylight faded, helicopters and aircraft continued to search just offshore, while the seafront and surrounding streets were cordoned off due to the scale of the operation. A second coastguard helicopter later arrived from Wales to take over aerial searches, which continued well after darkness had fallen.
During the initial searches, emergency services recovered Mr Ratcliffe from the water. Despite the best efforts of crews at the scene, he was pronounced dead a short time later. Police said the circumstances surrounding his death are not believed to be suspicious.
Later on Friday evening, police confirmed that a second body had also been recovered from the sea. The circumstances are not believed to be suspicious.
At around 9pm, several ambulances were seen near the commercial slipway, while coastguard aircraft continued to operate overhead.
The search was stood down overnight at around 12.30am before resuming at first light on Saturday.
An update from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at 9.30am confirmed that searches had resumed, with coastguard rescue teams and police deployed to search for one remaining missing person.
However, conditions deteriorated further during the morning, with heavy snowfall affecting the seafront and reducing visibility. Coastguard and fire service personnel were later seen scouring the rocks along the shoreline, but access to the beach was limited as the tide began to come in during the afternoon.
Following the second day of activity, HM Coastguard confirmed its search operation had been fully stood down, with police continuing enquiries.
Residents have been advised to expect an increased police presence in and around the area.