A 67-year-old man has been hailed a 'selfless hero' after he lost his life attempting to rescue a teenage girl from treacherous seas off the East Yorkshire coast.
A Fatal Rescue Attempt in Freezing Waters
The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, January 2, 2026, at Withernsea beach. According to witnesses, a girl, believed to be around 15 years old, was 'washed away' after going down concrete steps near the Pier Towers amidst extremely rough conditions.
Paul Whitehead, owner of the seafront Castle Cafe, described how his staff rushed to help. 'One of my staff grabbed a life ring,' he said. 'The young girl had hold of the ring but was hit by a wave and couldn't hold on and went under.' Her parents and several local men, including the deceased, then entered the water in a desperate bid to save her.
Tributes to a 'True Selfless Hero'
The man who died has been named as Mark Ratcliffe. In a heartfelt tribute, his grieving family said: 'A true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others. You were loved by so many people, and we will all miss you forever.'
They described him as a loving husband, father, son, brother and the 'best grandad' anybody could wish for.
Witness Karen Higgs, 66, recounted the frantic moments, stating she saw someone in the water 'going in and out with the waves'. Despite a safety ring being thrown, the girl was unable to catch it.
Ongoing Search and Police Investigation
The body of a 45-year-old woman was also recovered from the water. An extensive search for a third missing person resumed on Saturday morning but was stood down at around 4pm.
Humberside Police confirmed that residents can expect to see a continued police presence in the Withernsea area as inquiries proceed. The force stated that the circumstances surrounding both deaths are not believed to be suspicious.
The community of Withernsea has been left shaken by the tragic events, which underscore the deadly dangers of the sea, especially during winter conditions.
