Humberside Police have issued a statement amid extensive searches for the teenager along the shoreline
Police say extensive searches are continuing to find the teenager who tragically went missing in the sea off Withernsea last week. Grace Keeling, 15, has sadly not been found after the incident on Friday (January 2) that claimed the lives of her mother Sarah Keeling, 45, and Mark Ratcliffe, 67, who heroically tried to help pull them from the water.
In their latest update issued today (Tuesday, January 6), Humberside Police say they have spent the past few days working to piece together how the tragedy unfolded. CCTV evidence and multiple witnesses have revealed that Grace and her friend were “on the steps near to the rocks when Grace is believed to have fallen into the water after being swept by a wave”.
Her mum and passer-by Mark then tried to help recover Grace from the water but were sadly both found to have died. Chief Inspector Tom Stevens said: “This is a truly tragic incident, and our thoughts remain with the families of Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe.
“Both families continue to be supported by specially trained officers and have requested their privacy at this devastating time.
“Our priority now is to find Grace, and we are doing everything we can to locate her. This includes extensive searches along the shoreline and drone searches from Withernsea to Easington directed by our specialist search teams.
“Our underwater search unit has also been in the area, and we have consulted with an oceanographer to ensure our searches are as efficient as possible. Throughout the week, members of the public should expect to see a continued police presence in the area, and we would ask people to avoid the location to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely.
“Over the last five days we have been working to establish how the incident unfolded and understand the full circumstances of how Grace, Sarah and Mark came to be in the water. From trawling through CCTV and speaking to multiple witnesses who were in the area at the time, it is understood that Grace and her friend were on the steps near to the rocks when Grace is believed to have fallen into the water after being swept by a wave.
“Grace’s mum, Sarah, and three other members of the public who were nearby at the time, including Mark, immediately entered the water in an effort to save Grace. Alongside HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue Services, we were immediately deployed to the area and during the initial searches, emergency services recovered Mark unconscious from the water.
“Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Mark was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later. Sarah’s body was then found by HM Coastguard the same evening.
“Two other men who also entered the water in an attempt to assist with the rescue managed to exit safely. I would like to offer my thanks to all members of the public and partners for their continued assistance in the search for Grace, your help has been invaluable.”