A body has been discovered along the rocky coastline of Withernea Beach in East Yorkshire, two weeks after a 15-year-old girl was swept into the sea. Humberside Police have confirmed that the body is yet to be formally identified, as recovery efforts have been hampered by difficult conditions at the location.
The discovery comes after the disappearance of Grace Keeling, who was swept into the water on 2 January 2026. Extensive searches have been carried out over the past 13 days to locate the missing teenager. Tragically, the bodies of Grace’s mother, Sarah Keeling, and a member of the public, Mark Ratcliffe, who had attempted to rescue them, were found on the evening of 2 January.
Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers stated that the body was discovered by Humberside Police Search Advisors around 8:30 am on Friday, 16 January. However, due to the high tide and challenging conditions, it was not possible to safely recover the body immediately. Specialist equipment was used to secure the location overnight, and a cordon remains in place.
Officers and specialist teams have been working to explore all possible options to delicately recover the body, but the recovery mission has been paused until it is safe to resume. Vickers acknowledged that this discovery will understandably cause concern among the public, but he reassured that a dedicated team is doing everything they can to carry out the recovery as safely and quickly as possible.
Humberside Police have been in contact with Grace’s family to make them aware of this development, and they have asked the public to refrain from speculation and to respect the family’s privacy. Further updates will be provided as soon as they are able.
This tragic incident has shaken the local community, and the search for answers and closure continues. The authorities are working diligently to handle the situation with the utmost care and sensitivity, as they strive to provide the Keeling family with the answers they so desperately seek.