A mother and her teenage daughter who were swept out to sea have been named and pictured.
The bodies of, Sarah Keeling, 45, and Mark Ratcliffe, 67, were pulled from the freezing water at Withernsea, Yorkshire, on Friday evening, while searches for 15-year-old Grace Keeling are ongoing.
Ms Keeling and the teenage girl were mother and daughter, it can now be revealed.
The brave mother had waded into the sea trying to reach Grace after she was seen crying out for help.
She was joined by Good Samaritan Mr Ratcliffe, a member of the public who lost his life trying to assist with the rescue.
The bodies of the two adults were tragically recovered from the water on Friday night, while searches are still underway to locate Grace.
Mr Ratcliffe’s family described him as a ‘true selfless hero’ after he died trying to stop the mother and daughter being swept out to sea.
He braved 12ft waves after seeing the teenager get into difficulty in the water.
Mother and daughter Sarah Keeling, 45, and 15-year-old Grace Keeling, died after being swept out to sea
Mark Ratcliffe, 67, a member of the public who tried to assist with the rescue, also died
Emergency services were called to Withernsea following a ‘number of people in difficulty in the water’ on Friday afternoon
Mr Ratcliffe was recovered from the water unconscious shortly before 10pm on Friday and died soon after, Humberside Police said.
The two adults came within inches of saving the teen, it is understood.
In a heartbreaking tribute to Mr Ratcliffe, his family said: ‘A true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others.
‘So many lives are now shattered that you’re gone. You were loved by so many people, and we will all miss you forever.
‘A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for. Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you.’
Cafe owner Paul Whitehead, 60, told how his staff had tried to help by throwing a life ring to the girl.
The area had been cordoned off while emergency services launched their search operation
The HM Coastguard helicopter hovers above the sea as part of the rescue operation
Mr Whitehead said: ‘This was a tragic accident. The girl was enjoying the spectacle of the waves, but the sea was so rough she got swept away by the force of the water.
‘One of my staff tried to help her with a life ring. The girl grabbed the ring, but the sea was so rough she couldn’t hold on.’
Humberside Police previously confirmed that two bodies were pulled from the water. They called off their search for the girl on Saturday night after being hampered by blizzards and sub–zero temperatures.
The tragedy came hours after a 51–year–old from Kettering died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Brighton on New Year’s Day.