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Police Name Victims in Withernsea Sea Tragedy as Teenage Girl Remains Missing

Coastguard teams have stood down shoreline searches after severe conditions thwarted rescue efforts.

Overview

  • Humberside Police, with family permission, identified those who died as Mark Ratcliffe, 67, and Sarah Keeling, 45.
  • Fifteen-year-old Grace Keeling remains unaccounted for after being swept into the sea on Friday afternoon.
  • HM Coastguard resumed searches at first light on Saturday and later ended the extensive effort after shoreline operations were stood down.
  • Rescue attempts were hindered by snow, freezing temperatures and reported three-metre waves that initially limited lifeboat launches.
  • Witnesses said the girl was swept from steps near Pier Towers and that people entered the water to help; police say the deaths are not being treated as suspicious.