A 67-year-old man has died after being recovered from the sea during a major search operation on the East Yorkshire Coast. The search still continues after an alarm was raised earlier today.
Humberside Police confirmed that the unconscious man was pulled from the water at Withernsea. The incident occurred this afternoon and prompted a huge emergency response. Emergency services were called to reports of people in difficulty in the water. Searches are continuing but in an update, Humberside Police have confirmed that one man has sadly died.
A statement read: “Officers were called to attend Central Promenade in Withernsea following reports of concern for safety for people in the water at around 3.15pm on Friday, 2 January 2026.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Alongside HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire & Rescue, Humberside Police officers were immediately deployed to the area.
“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.”
HM Coastguard has confirmed it was searching for two missing people in the water at about 7pm, more than four hours after the alarm was first raised.
A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: “HM Coastguard is searching for two missing people in the water off Withernsea today, 2 January.
“First alerted to reports of people in difficulty in the water at around 3.10pm, assets sent to the scene include an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull, the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington, and 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. Searches remain ongoing.”
It is understood the the search is still ongoing, but it is not currently known how many other people were involved in the incident.
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