Girl’s body found in sea off East Yorkshire coast

A body has been found in the search for a missing girl, 15, who was swept into the sea off the East Yorkshire coast, Humberside Police has said.

Grace Keeling went into the water at Withernsea on 2 January. Her mother, Sarah Keeling, 45, and passer-by, Mark Ratcliffe, 67, both died after trying to save her.

The force said emergency services had attempted to retrieve the body, which was found among the rocks on the beach at Withernsea on Thursday at 08:30 GMT, but was unsuccessful due to tide times and other conditions.

Specialist officers have been in contact with Grace’s family and have asked people to “refrain from speculation” and “respect their privacy”.

Emergency services, including HM Coastguard, have cordoned off an area of Holmpton Road and remain at the scene, police said.

Det Supt Simon Vickers said the discovery had followed 13 days of “extensive searches”.

He added: “Officers and specialist teams have been working to explore every possible option in very complex circumstances to delicately recover the body.

“Due to tide times, conditions and the location, the recovery could not be immediately carried out and has therefore been paused until it is safe to resume.”

A major operation was launched involving HM Coastguard, lifeboats and helicopters after calls to the emergency services at about 15:00 GMT on 2 January.

Ratcliffe was pulled unconscious from the sea and died at the scene. Sarah Keeling’s body was recovered later the same evening.

In a tribute, Ratcliffe’s family described him as a “true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others”.

Joanne Gee, a close friend of Sarah Keeling, said the 45-year-old “left a mark with absolutely everyone she met”.