A devastating coastal incident in East Yorkshire has claimed two lives, with a third person still missing after being swept out to sea by enormous waves.
A Desperate Attempt to Save Lives
Richard Shaw, 68, was walking his dog near Pier Towers in Withernsea last Friday around 3pm when he heard desperate screams. He looked over the sea wall to see a teenager, 15-year-old Grace Keeling, being pulled under by what he described as "'20 feet tall' waves". The sea conditions were exceptionally dangerous, with the tide at its highest and water crashing over the defences.
Mr Shaw immediately ran to retrieve a lifebelt from its container while shouting for the coastguard. He saw Grace's mother, 45-year-old Sarah Keeling, shouting at her daughter to grab the life ring before she herself entered the "very angry and horrible" water in a frantic attempt to save her child.
The Rescue Efforts Turn Tragic
Despite the extreme peril, Mr Shaw moved towards the bottom of the ramp, hoping to reach Sarah Keeling as she stumbled in the surf. "I thought I had the chance to reach her now where the water receded," he recounted. However, a massive wave swept him off his feet, smashing him against the wall and injuring his knee.
He was enveloped by waves and, upon surfacing, saw another man, later identified as Mark Ratcliffe, also attempting to help before being swept away. After being hit by two more powerful waves, Mr Shaw made the agonising decision to retreat to save his own life, noting that a young woman who had also entered the water managed to escape around the same time.
Tragically, the body of Sarah Keeling was later recovered from the water alongside that of Mark Ratcliffe, who had entered the sea in a heroic attempt to assist. Grace Keeling's remains have not yet been found, and an extensive search operation continues.
Ongoing Search and Community Grief
Chief Inspector Tom Stevens of Humberside Police stated that their priority is to locate Grace. Specialist search teams are conducting extensive shoreline searches and drone operations from Withernsea to Easington, supported by the police underwater search unit and advice from an oceanographer. A continued police presence is expected in the area throughout the week.
The incident triggered a large-scale emergency response involving a rescue helicopter, an air ambulance, and RNLI teams from Withernsea, Bridlington, and Hornsea Inshore Rescue.
For Richard Shaw, the tragedy was particularly poignant. He lost his own father in a similar drowning incident when he was just 12 years old, after his father tried to rescue their dog from a high tide in New Brighton. He described the situation as "impossible", stating solemnly: "The sea is in charge here and we are not."
The family of Mark Ratcliffe paid tribute to a "loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for." The community of Withernsea, where Mr Shaw has lived for ten years, has been left shattered by the devastating loss.
