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Hero Dies Saving Two from Sea
4 Jan
Summary
- Mark Ratcliffe, 67, died attempting to rescue two people from the sea.
- A teenage girl was reportedly caught by a large wave near Pier Towers.
- A woman and another person were recovered from the water following the incident.
A devastating incident off the coast of Withernsea on Friday, January 2, has claimed the life of 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe. He entered the sea in an attempt to rescue others, an act his family poignantly described as that of a 'true selfless hero with a heart of gold.'
Emergency services were alerted shortly after 3 pm, initiating a large-scale rescue operation. Helicopters, air ambulances, and RNLI crews from several stations were deployed. Despite their efforts, Mr. Ratcliffe was recovered from the water but sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Police confirmed the circumstances were not suspicious. Separately, a 45-year-old woman was recovered from the sea later that evening.
The extensive search operation, which included HM Coastguard and Humberside Police, continued through the night and into Saturday, January 3. Witnesses reported a teenage girl being overwhelmed by a large wave near Pier Towers, which is believed to have triggered the rescue attempts. Searches were ongoing for one remaining missing person as of Saturday afternoon.
