The family of Mark Ratcliffe have paid tribute to the “best grandad anybody could ever wish for”, after he drowned trying to save two others who ran into trouble in the water.

Mark Ratcliffe died while trying to save people from the sea. Pic: Humberside Police
Image:Mark Ratcliffe died while trying to save people from the sea. Pic: Humberside Police

A man who died trying to help two people stuck in the sea off the East Yorkshire coast has been been remembered by his family for his “heart of gold”.

Mark Ratcliffe, 67, was pulled from the sea at Withernsea on Friday.

He was found unconscious in the water and later confirmed to have died.

Paying tribute, 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.”

HM Coastguard stood down its extensive search for a third person missing at sea. Pic: HM Coastguard
Image:HM Coastguard stood down its extensive search for a third person missing at sea. Pic: HM Coastguard

Mr Ratcliffe’s family described him as a “loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for”.

“Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you,” they said.

Late on Friday evening, Humberside Police said the body of a 45-year-old woman had also been recovered.

Authorities were first alerted shortly after 3pm on Friday that three people had got into trouble in the water off the East Yorkshire coast.

It was first reported three people had got into trouble on the water on Friday. Pic: HM Coastguard.
Image:It was first reported three people had got into trouble on the water on Friday. Pic: HM Coastguard.

The search for a third body was stood down at 4pm on Saturday by HM Coastguard, but police operations will continue in the area.

“Residents will continue to see an increased police presence in and around the area as officers continue to search for the one remaining missing person,” Humberside Police said.

A coastguard helicopter was involved in the search.
Image:A coastguard helicopter was involved in the search.

Rescuers battled freezing conditions during search

The rescue operation called in local coastguard and RNLI rescue teams, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, an air ambulance, Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue.

The RNLI said the conditions during the search had been “extremely difficult, with 3m waves, strong winds and very cold air temperatures”.

“This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families, friends and all those impacted,” the institute said.

Temperatures in the seaside town fell to below freezing over the weekend, with the Met Office predicting a peak of 2C on Saturday, although it would feel like -4C.

The conditions prevented Hornsea Inshore Rescue, a local independent group of volunteers, from entering the water.

In a post on Thursday, the group said it had called off a New Year’s Day public swim because “the sea conditions were just not suitable today for us to condone anyone entering the water”.

The deaths come after a 51-year-old man died after getting into difficulty in the water in Brighton.