A major search and rescue mission was launched off the East Yorkshire coast on Friday afternoon amid fears for a family reported to be in serious difficulty in the sea.
Multi-Agency Response in 'Horrendous' Conditions
HM Coastguard confirmed it was alerted to an incident near Withernsea at approximately 3.10pm on 2 January 2026. Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports that a number of people, believed to be a family group, were in trouble in the water.
Rescue teams faced what was described as extremely challenging and dangerous conditions. An active snow and ice warning was in place for the region, with temperatures plummeting and rough seas hampering efforts.
Lifeboat Launch Thwarted by Three-Metre Waves
The severity of the weather was starkly highlighted by Hornsea Inshore Rescue. In a social media update, the volunteer team stated they were called out but were unable to launch their lifeboat due to "horrendous conditions."
They reported three-metre waves breaking directly onto their slipway, creating a situation where the launch tractor and trailer would have been knocked sideways off the ramp. Instead, the crew dispatched a 4x4 vehicle with a casualty care team to the scene in Withernsea.
Full-Scale Emergency Operation Deployed
A significant force of emergency assets was mobilised for the search. A Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft were scrambled to the area.
Coastguard Rescue Teams from Withernsea, Hornsea, and Hull were deployed on the ground. On the water, the RNLI's inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and the all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington were tasked, alongside Humber Rescue's inshore lifeboat.
The response also included:
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service
- An air ambulance
- Humberside Police
- Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
The operation remained ongoing into the evening, with crews battling the freezing conditions as the search continued.
