In a devastating turn of events, the search for a missing 15-year-old girl at Withernsea beach in East Yorkshire has ended in tragedy. Humberside Police have confirmed that a body has been recovered, which they believe to be that of Grace Keeling.
The incident unfolded on 2nd January, when Grace went into the sea and was swept away. Her mother, Sarah Keeling, 45, and a passer-by, Mark Ratcliffe, 67, both tragically lost their lives after attempting to rescue her.
While formal identification is yet to take place, Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers stated that they believe the recovered body to be Grace’s. “This was a deeply upsetting incident, and I cannot begin to understand the heartbreak felt by all the loved ones of those involved,” he said.
The police have spoken to Grace’s family and are providing them with support from specially trained officers. “Understandably, they have asked for their privacy, and we would ask that this is respected,” Vickers added.
The body was discovered on the rocks at Withernsea beach around 8:30 am on Thursday, following extensive searches over the past 14 days. However, due to the tide conditions, it was not possible to safely recover Grace’s body until Saturday morning, with the assistance of the HM Coastguard and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.
In a heartfelt tribute, Vickers said, “Our thoughts and sincere sympathies will always remain with the families of Grace and Sarah Keeling, and Mark Ratcliffe following this utter tragedy.”
According to the police, Grace and a friend were on the steps near the rocks when she was “believed to have fallen into the water after being swept by a wave.” A major rescue operation was launched at 3:10 pm on the day of the incident, involving the HM Coastguard, emergency services, and the RNLI, including helicopters and lifeboats.
Ratcliffe, a resident of Withernsea, was pulled unconscious from the sea and died at the scene. His family described him as a “true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others.”
The body of Sarah Keeling, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, was recovered later the same evening. Her close friend, Joanne Gee, said the 45-year-old “left a mark with absolutely everyone she met.”
An inquest into the deaths of Ratcliffe and Sarah Keeling was opened at Hull Coroner’s Court on 12th January and has been adjourned to a later date.
This tragic incident has left the small town of Withernsea in a state of grief and heartbreak, as the community mourns the loss of three lives in the devastating sea tragedy.
