Two people have died and another remains missing after attempting to rescue a teenage girl who was carried into the sea by powerful waves off the East Yorkshire coast, according to authorities and eyewitnesses.
Emergency services were alerted to an incident at Central Promenade in Withernsea at around 3.15pm on Friday. Humberside Police said a 67-year-old man was pulled from the water unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene. Later that evening, a second body was recovered. Searches resumed at first light on Saturday for a third person who is still missing.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as rough seas battered the shoreline. Paul Whitehead, owner of a nearby café, said a girl believed to be about 15 had gone down the concrete steps by the Pier Towers when heavy waves swept her away. Café staff and members of the public rushed to help, with one person throwing a life ring that the girl briefly grasped before being hit by another wave and disappearing beneath the water.
According to accounts given to the media, the girl’s parents and several local men entered the water in an effort to help her, despite the dangerous conditions. Another witness said people on the promenade shouted for the girl to grab the safety ring as waves pulled her farther out to sea.
HM Coastguard confirmed that extensive search efforts were carried out on Friday, involving rescue teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull, an RNLI inshore lifeboat from Withernsea, an all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington, and Hornsea Inshore Rescue, alongside a rescue helicopter and ambulance crews. Searches were paused shortly after midnight due to conditions and resumed on Saturday morning.
Local charity Hornsea Inshore Rescue said it was initially unable to launch because of “horrendous conditions” and waves reaching around three metres, though crews later managed to get on the water.
Police said the deaths are not being treated as suspicious and urged the public to stay away from the area to allow emergency services to continue their work safely.
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