A 67-year-old man has been hailed a 'true selfless hero' after losing his life attempting to rescue a mother and daughter from treacherous seas off the East Yorkshire coast.
A Desperate Attempt in Treacherous Conditions
The tragic sequence of events unfolded last Friday afternoon in Withernsea. Mark Ratcliffe, 67, was on the promenade when he witnessed a 15-year-old girl cry out for help after being struck by a powerful wave. The teenager had been 'wave watching' near some concrete steps known locally as the 'towers'.
Her 45-year-old mother, who had momentarily stepped away with the family dog, sprinted back upon hearing the cries. She waded into the churning water in a desperate bid to reach her daughter, who was being carried along the shoreline. Mr Ratcliffe, without hesitation, braved the horrifying 12ft waves to join the rescue effort.
Rescuers' Heartbreaking Efforts
It is believed both the mother and Mr Ratcliffe came agonisingly close to saving the girl before they too were overcome by the extreme conditions. Emergency services, including lifeboat crews, faced three-metre waves as they launched a desperate search. A lifeboat team even abandoned their vessel to dive in after spotting the teenager, but were unable to reach her before she was swept further away.
Mr Ratcliffe was pulled from the water unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene at around 10pm, nearly seven hours after the initial incident. The mother was later recovered from sea defences approximately 100 feet from where she was last seen. Searches for the teenager continued over the weekend, with the beach sealed off on Sunday as teams focused on an area near rocks exposed at low tide.
Tributes to a 'Loving Family Man'
In a moving tribute, Mark Ratcliffe's family described him as a hero with a heart of gold. "A true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others," they said. "A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for."
Paul Whitehead, 60, owner of the Castle Cafe opposite the scene, reviewed CCTV footage which has been shared with police. He described the incident as a 'tragic accident'. "The mum's actions were instinctive. She was inches away from her daughter, I'm told," he said. "I'm a dad and you would not hesitate. It's a tragic accident."
Humberside Police have been approached for an update on the ongoing investigation into this devastating triple tragedy, which underscores the deadly power of the UK's coastal waters.
