The desperate search for 15-year-old Grace Keeling has taken a poignant and perplexing turn with the discovery of her black personal backpack, located 300 meters from the spot where she vanished off the East Yorkshire coast. Rescue teams, battling relentless waves and freezing conditions, recovered the bag on January 5, 2026—more than two weeks after a freak wave swept Grace and her mother into the sea during a coastal walk on December 21, 2025. The find has reignited hope among family and volunteers, but what was inside has immediately raised new questions, deepening the mystery surrounding the teenager’s disappearance.

Grace, a Year 11 student from Hull known for her love of photography and coastal walks, was with her mother, Sarah Keeling, 42, when the rogue wave struck near Flamborough Head. Sarah was rescued by coastguard helicopter after clinging to rocks, suffering hypothermia and injuries, but Grace was pulled further out. A heroic pensioner, 68-year-old retired fisherman Alan Thorpe, died attempting to reach her—throwing a life ring before succumbing to the cold. Thorpe’s body was recovered days later, his bravery earning posthumous recognition from the RNLI.

The backpack, identified by Sarah as Grace’s distinctive black rucksack with pink straps, was spotted tangled in seaweed by a search dog team. “It was a moment of hope and heartbreak,” said Humber Coastguard spokesperson Lisa Hargreaves. Inside were Grace’s phone (water-damaged but intact), wallet with ID, a half-eaten chocolate bar, and her digital camera—containing photos from that day showing Grace smiling on the cliffs minutes before the wave. Strangest: A handwritten note in Grace’s handwriting reading “If found, tell Mum I love her”—dated the morning of the incident. Investigators are examining if it was a premonition, routine journal entry, or something else.

The discovery 300 meters south—against prevailing currents—has puzzled experts. “It’s not where we’d expect drift,” said marine search specialist Dr. Emma Lloyd. Theories range from Grace briefly surfacing and dropping the bag to it dislodging from her during the wave. Sarah, recovering in hospital, was shown photos of the items: “It’s her bag—her things. But why the note? She was happy that morning.” The phone’s last activity—a paused playlist of Taylor Swift songs—adds emotional weight.

Searches continue with helicopters, drones, and shore teams, covering 50 square miles. Over 500 volunteers have joined, vigils held in Hull. “Grace is strong—she could still be out there,” her father Mark told BBC. But the backpack’s contents fuel speculation: Suicide note? Unlikely, per family. Message for rescuers? Possible. The note’s ambiguity intensifies anguish.

This case echoes tragedies like the 2018 Jay Slater disappearance, where items fueled theories. For Grace’s family, the backpack is bittersweet—proof she was there, but no closure. As winter bites, hope fades but persists. “We’ll keep searching until we know,” Hargreaves vowed.

Grace Keeling’s story—bright teen stolen by the sea—remains unresolved. The backpack raises questions, but answers elude. Britain prays for the girl who loved the coast, now lost to it.