A body has been discovered during the search for 15-year-old Grace Keeling, who went missing after entering the sea at Withernsea on January 2. Tragically, Grace's mother, Sarah Keeling (45), and a passer-by, Mark Ratcliffe (67), died attempting to rescue her. The body was found among rocks on the beach on Thursday morning. Due to challenging conditions, including tide times, emergency services were unable to immediately retrieve the body, and the recovery operation has been paused until it is safe to resume.
Humberside Police stated that while the body has not yet been formally identified, the discovery follows 13 days of extensive searches for Grace. The force has appealed for the public to refrain from speculation and to respect the family's privacy. An inquest into the deaths of Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe has been opened, with preliminary findings indicating they both died from drowning, with Sarah also sustaining head and neck injuries, and Mark suffering chest injuries. Both Sarah Keeling and Mark Ratcliffe have been honored by loved ones, with Ratcliffe described as a "true selfless hero" and Sarah Keeling remembered for the mark she left on everyone she met.