Two individuals tragically drowned while attempting to rescue a teenage girl swept into the sea, according to an inquest. Sarah Keeling, aged 45, and Mark Ratcliffe, aged 67, lost their lives after entering the water at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, on January 2. The search continues for Mrs. Keeling’s 15-year-old daughter, Grace.
At Hull Coroners’ Court, inquests into the deaths of the pair were opened and adjourned. East Yorkshire area coroner Lorraine Harris revealed that drowning was the primary cause of Mrs. Keeling’s death, with head and neck injuries as contributing factors.
Mrs. Keeling, originally from Germany, resided in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and worked in international sales. Mr. Ratcliffe, a retired warehouse manager from Bradford who lived in Withernsea, also succumbed to drowning, with chest injuries playing a role.
The brief hearings, lasting approximately two minutes each, took place without any family members present. Both inquests were adjourned for a later date.
Humberside Police reported being alerted to the incident at Central Promenade in Withernsea at 3:15 pm on January 2. Following investigations into CCTV footage and witness accounts, it was determined that Grace and a friend were near the rocks when a wave swept Grace into the sea.
Mrs. Keeling and three bystanders, including Mr. Ratcliffe, rushed into the water to rescue her. Emergency services, including police, coastguards, ambulances, and fire crews, responded to the scene.
During the initial search, Mr. Ratcliffe was pulled unconscious from the water and later declared deceased. Mrs. Keeling’s body was discovered by coastguards that evening. Fortunately, two other men who entered the water managed to escape safely.
The Ratcliffe family paid tribute to Mark, describing him as a selfless hero who tragically lost his life while trying to save others.