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Body recovered in search for girl missing at sea

Published

1 hour ago

17 January 2026

NewsAdmin

Girl's body found in sea off East Yorkshire coast

Emma PetrieEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Grace Keeling, left, and Sarah Keeling went into the sea at Withernsea on 2 January

Humberside Police Grace Keeling and Sarah Keeling looking at the camera while sat in a car. Grace has long brown hair and Sarah has long blond hair, both are wearing blue denim jackets — Grace Keeling, left, and Sarah Keeling went into the sea at Withernsea on 2 January

A body has been recovered 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.

While formal identification is yet to take place, police said they believed this person to be Grace Keeling.

Det Supt Simon Vickers said: “This was a deeply upsetting incident, and I cannot begin to understand the heartbreak felt by all the loved ones of those involved.”

Vickers said they had spoken to Grace Keeling’s family and updated them, and were continuing to support them with specially trained officers.

“Understandably, they have asked for their privacy, and we would ask that this is respected,” he said.

Police said her body was discovered at about 08:30 GMT on Thursday following extensive searches over the past 14 days but said it was not possible to recover the body immediately due to the tide times, conditions and location.

Officers said they were able to do so safely on Saturday morning, with the help of HM Coastguard and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.

One of many heartfelt tributes placed at the scene in Withernsea

Jasmine Lowe / BBC A close-up shot of flowers. In the centre is a pink teddy bear above a note that reads: RIP to the mummy trying to save your little girl. — One of many heartfelt tributes placed at the scene in Withernsea

Humberside Police thanked everyone who had offered or assisted in the search.

Vickers added: “Our thoughts and sincere sympathies will always remain with the families of Grace and Sarah Keeling, and Mark Ratcliffe following this utter tragedy.”

Police had previously said that, from trawling through CCTV and speaking to multiple witnesses, it was understood that Grace Keeling and a friend were on the steps near to the rocks when she was “believed to have fallen into the water after being swept by a wave”.

A major operation was launched at 15:10 GMT on Friday 2 January following reports of people in the water. It involved HM Coastguard, emergency services, the RNLI and included helicopters and lifeboats.

Ratcliffe, from Withernsea, was pulled unconscious from the sea and died at the scene.

The body of Sarah Keeling, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, was recovered later the same evening.