Extensive searches continue for 15-year-old Grace Keeling, who remains missing after she was swept out to sea off the East Yorkshire coast.
Her mother, 45-year-old Sarah Keeling, and 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe, who was nearby, died during the incident while trying to help.
Humberside Police were called to reports of concerns for the safety of people in the water at around 3.15pm on Friday.
“This is a truly tragic incident,” Chief Inspector Tom Stevens said, adding that both families continued to be supported by specially trained officers.
“Our priority now is to find Grace, and we are doing everything we can to locate her.
“This includes extensive searches along the shoreline and drone searches from Withernsea to Easington directed by our specialist search teams.”
An underwater search unit has been in the area, and an oceanographer has been consulted “to ensure our searches are as efficient as possible”, he said.
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Members of the public are advised to avoid the area throughout the week to allow emergency teams to work more efficiently.
How the incident unfolded
Police have been working to establish how the incident unfolded and how Grace, her mother and Mr Ratcliffe came to be in the water.
Inspector Stevens said: “From trawling through CCTV and speaking to multiple witnesses who were in the area at the time, it is understood that Grace and her friend were on the steps near the rocks when Grace is believed to have fallen into the water after being swept by a wave.
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“Grace’s mum, Sarah, and three other members of the public who were nearby at the time, including Mark, immediately entered the water in an effort to save Grace.”
Emergency teams, including the HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue Services, were immediately deployed to the area.
During the initial searches, they were able to recover Mr Ratcliffe unconscious from the water.
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“Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Mark was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later. Sarah’s body was then found by HM Coastguard the same evening,” Inspector Stevens said.
Two other men who went into the water to help were able to get out safely.
“I would like to offer my thanks to all members of the public and partners for their continued assistance in the search for Grace, your help has been invaluable,” he added.
