An inquest has heard the tragic details of how two people lost their lives after entering the sea in a desperate bid to rescue a teenage girl on the East Yorkshire coast.
Inquests Opened and Adjourned
Formal hearings into the deaths of Sarah Keeling, 45, and Mark Ratcliffe, 67, were opened and adjourned at Hull Coroners' Court on Monday. East Yorkshire area coroner Lorraine Harris stated that the primary cause of death for both was drowning.
Mrs Keeling, who was born in Germany and lived in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, also sustained head and neck injuries. She worked in international sales. Mr Ratcliffe, a retired warehouse manager born in Bradford and living in Withernsea, had chest injuries listed as a contributing factor. Each brief hearing lasted around two minutes, with no family members present.
The Desperate Rescue Attempt
The court heard how the incident unfolded on January 2. Humberside Police were called to Central Promenade in Withernsea at 3.15pm. After reviewing CCTV and speaking to witnesses, officers believe that 15-year-old Grace Keeling and a friend were standing on steps near rocks when a wave swept Grace into the water.
In response, Mrs Keeling and three members of the public, including Mr Ratcliffe, immediately entered the sea to try and save her. A major emergency response was launched, involving police, coastguards, ambulance crews, and the fire service.
During the initial search, Mr Ratcliffe was pulled from the water unconscious and was pronounced dead at the scene. Mrs Keeling's body was found by coastguards later that evening. Two other men who entered the water managed to get out safely. The search for Grace Keeling, Mrs Keeling's daughter, is ongoing.
Tributes to a 'Selfless Hero'
In a heartfelt tribute, Mr Ratcliffe's family described him as a "true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others."
The inquests for both Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe have been adjourned to a later date, pending further investigation into the circumstances of this devastating coastal tragedy.
