The search operations are ongoing for a teenage girl who went missing in the sea five days ago under tragic circumstances.
Grace Keeling, aged 15, remains unfound after she fell into the water at Withernsea on Friday (January 2). The incident also resulted in the unfortunate deaths of her mother, Sarah Keeling, aged 45, and a bystander named Mark Ratcliffe, aged 67, who bravely attempted to rescue her. Mr. Ratcliffe was discovered unconscious during the initial search efforts, while Ms. Sarah Keeling’s body was later recovered by HM Coastguard on the same evening.
Providing an update today, Humberside Police mentioned that they have been diligently investigating the sequence of events leading to the tragedy over the past few days. Through the analysis of CCTV footage and conversations with various witnesses, the authorities have determined that Grace and her companion were near the rocks when she fell into the water after being swept by a wave.
Chief Inspector Tom Stevens described the incident as “truly tragic” and emphasized that the families of Sarah and Mark are receiving support from trained officers, requesting privacy during this challenging period.
“Our primary focus at this time is locating Grace, and we are actively engaged in search operations,” he stated. Intensive searches along the shoreline and drone surveys spanning from Withernsea to Easington are underway, led by specialized teams. Moreover, the deployment of the underwater search unit, in collaboration with an oceanographer, is aimed at maximizing search effectiveness. The public is urged to avoid the area to facilitate the investigative process.
Ch Insp Stevens further added: “In the past five days, our efforts have been focused on unraveling the events leading to the incident and comprehending the circumstances surrounding Grace, Sarah, and Mark’s presence in the water. Reviewing CCTV footage and speaking with witnesses from the area indicate that Grace and her friend were on the steps near the rocks when the unfortunate incident occurred.”
“Grace’s mother, Sarah, along with three other individuals who were nearby, including Mark, immediately entered the water to aid Grace. With the swift response from HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and Humberside Fire and Rescue Services, search and rescue operations were promptly initiated, resulting in the recovery of Mark from the water in an unconscious state.”
Tragically, Mark Ratcliffe was pronounced dead at the scene, while Sarah Keeling’s body was found later by HM Coastguard that evening. Two other men who assisted in the rescue safely made it out of the water, as confirmed by Ch Insp Stevens, who expressed gratitude to the public and partners for their unwavering support in the search for Grace.
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