Girl, 15, & her mum, 45, pictured after being swept out to sea as ‘hero’ passer-by, 67, died trying to rescue them

A man described as a ‘hero’ was named earlier

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl and her mum who were swept out to sea by a freak wave have been named and pictured for the first time.

Rescue crews launched a major operation after three people disappeared in the water near Withernsea, off the East Yorkshire coast on Friday afternoon.

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Sarah Keeling and 15-year-old Grace Keeling have been named and picturedCredit: Humberside Police
 

A man smiling in glasses with a painting of a coastal town behind him.
Another victim Mark Ratcliffe was hailed as ‘a true selfless hero with a heart of gold
 

Emergency services, including fire and police vehicles, gather near the sea at Withernsea.
RNLI crews, Humberside Police, the Ambulance Service and Fire and Rescue crews at the sceneCredit: x.com/@BPINewsOrg
Now, cops have confirmed that a mother and daughter, 45-year-old Sarah Keeling and 15-year-old Grace Keeling, were two of the people involved in the tragic incident.

Sarah’s body was sadly recovered on Friday as well as the body of a man who was named earlier today as Mark Ratcliffe, cops revealed.

Ratcliffe, 67, was found unconscious in the water on Friday 2 January and died a short time later after leaping in to try and save the mum and daughter.

However, searches are still ongoing to locate teenager Grace.

Both families continue to be supported by specially trained officers, said Humberside Police.

The incident resulted in a major search involving a rescue helicopter, air ambulance and RNLI crews from Withernsea, Bridlington and Hornsea Inshore Rescue.

Rescue teams could be seen battling “three-metre waves” and fading daylight in “bitter” conditions off the east coast as they worked to save other people from the water.

Humberside Police said in a statement: “Following reports of concerns for safety for people in the water in Withernsea, with the permission of the family, Humberside Police can now confirm that a mother and daughter, 45-year-old Sarah Keeling and 15-year-old Grace Keeling, were involved in this tragic incident.

“67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe, a member of the public who died trying to assist with the rescue.

“The bodies of Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe were recovered on the evening of Friday, 2 January 2026. Searches are still ongoing to locate Grace.”

Mark’s family have released a grieving tribute hailing him as “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others.”

It is understood that Mark leapt into action to rescue people who were struggling in “horrendous” conditions in the freezing water off the east coast.

Grace was reportedly the first to get into difficulty in the water with eyewitnesses saying she was dragged out to sea by a freak wave.

Her mother is then understood to have jumped in to rescue her before Mark followed suit in a bid to save both of them.

Emergency services were scrambled to the area and Mark was pulled unconscious from the sea by rescuers.

Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police tape sealed off the steep steps down to sea underneath the town’s famous Pier Towers following the tragedy.

A steady stream of well wishers came past to lay flowers and to pay their respects to those who had died.

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The search carried on well into the evening before being called off in the early hours and resumed the following dayCredit: Darrin Stevens
 

HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter in flight against a pale sky.
A HM Coastguard helicopter was summonedCredit: Darrin Stevens
 

People walking along a snow-covered promenade with snowy rocks and a body of water in the background.
Credit: Hull Live/MEN MEDIA
Mark Ratcliffe’s family said: “So many lives are now shattered that you’re gone. You were loved by so many people, and we will all miss you forever.

“A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for. Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you.”

Paul Whitehead, owner of the Castle Cafe – which is just yards from the tragedy, told The Sun: “The daughter was on the steps when a huge wave crashed into her and swept her out.

“The current carried her down the beach where there is a slipway.

“My member of staff heard what was happening and ran out to help. There was a crowd all trying to help get the girl.

“The girl’s mum was by my colleague’s side and they both went into the water to pull the girl out.

“Her mum went to try and grab her daughter, my colleague was just inches away from grabbing the girl too. But then the current took them both out.

“My colleague is absolutely devastated. She was incredibly brave.”

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The search carried on well into the evening before being called off in the early hours and resumed the following dayCredit: Darrin Stevens