Search resumes for lacking particular person after two die in treacherous sea off East Yorkshire coast
Searches for a third person have resumed this morning after two bodies were pulled from the sea off the East Yorkshire coast.
Emergency services were called to Withernsea following a ‘number of people in difficulty in the water’ on Friday afternoon.
A 67-year-old man was recovered from the water unconscious shortly before 10pm and died soon after, Humberside Police said.
Later, just before 11.30pm, the force confirmed a second death and said searches were continuing for one more person who had gone into the water.
Witnesses claim a teenage girl was caught by a large wave, near Pier Towers, before she was overwhelmed by the sea, sparking scenes of panic as people tried to rescue her.
The double tragedy came just hours after a man in his 50s died after getting into difficulty at Brighton beach on New Year’s Day.
HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police, and Humberside Fire and Rescue all scrambled crews to Withernsea at around 3.15pm to try and rescue those in the freezing sea.
The major rescue mission involved more than 100 members of the emergency services, with rescuers standing down their search for the third person at 12.30am on Saturday before resuming at 6.30am.
Emergency services were called to Withernsea following a ‘number of people in difficulty in the water’ on Friday afternoon
HM Coastguard said searches were stood down at around 12.30am today and resumed at 6.30am
The HM Coastguard helicopter hovers above the sea as part of the rescue operation
In an update this morning, the Coastguard said: ‘HM Coastguard searches in the Withernsea area have resumed this morning, January 3.
‘Coastguard Rescue Teams from Hull, Withernsea, Hornsea and Bridlington alongside police were sent to the scene at around 6.30am to search for one missing person.
‘Searches remain ongoing.’
It comes just one day after people were not allowed to enter the sea for the annual New Year’s Day swim event due to large breaking waves, and amid a yellow weather warning for snow and ice on the Yorkshire coast.
Resident Darrin Stevens told the BBC he had seen lots of emergency crews near the beach on Friday, adding: ‘It’s just blue lights, wall-to-wall from one side to the other’.
Another eyewitness, Karen Higgs, claimed a teenage girl had fallen into the sea.
She told The Telegraph people had attempted to pull her back to safety with a safety ring, but that she ‘never tried to catch it’.
‘We were all shouting at her to catch it, catch it’, she said. ‘She just didn’t. Then she was going out further. Every time she went out she came in harder.
Paul Whitehead, the owner of Castle Cafe on the promenade, told The Telegraph the sea was so rough that the girl, who he estimated to be around 15 years old, ‘got washed away’.
HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police, and Humberside Fire and Rescue all scrambled crews to Withernsea at around 3.15pm to try and rescue those in the freezing sea
He added that four men who were on the promenade went to help, along with the girl’s parents.
‘The young girl had hold of the ring but was hit by a wave and couldn’t hold on and went under,’ he said.
A spokesperson for Humberside Police said last night: ‘During the initial searches, emergency services recovered an unconscious man from the water.
‘Despite the best efforts we can confirm a 67-year-old man died a short time later at the scene.
‘The circumstances around his death are not thought to be suspicious. Searches are still ongoing.
‘Residents will continue to see an increased police presence in and around the area as the search continues.
‘We would ask people to please avoid the area to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely.’
They later added: ‘We can now confirm that earlier this evening (Friday, 2 January 2026) a second body was recovered from the sea.
‘The circumstances are not believed to be suspicious.
‘Humberside Police officers along with HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire & Rescue, remain in the area as searches continue for one more person who entered the water this afternoon.’
The Coastguard said in an earlier statement: ‘HM Coastguard is responding to reports made at about 3.10pm on January 2 of a number of people in difficulty in the water at Withernsea.
‘An HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft have been sent as well as Coastguard Rescue Teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull.
‘The RNLI’s inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington are assisting, as well as Hornsea Inshore Rescue.
‘Yorkshire Ambulance Service has been sent as well as an air ambulance. Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue are also in attendance.’
