Two Dead in North Sea Rescue; Teen Still Missing

A 67-year-old man died after entering the freezing North Sea to rescue a teenage girl swept away by a large wave off the coast of Withernsea, a seaside town in East Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon. The incident, which occurred around 3:15 p.m. near the Central Promenade and Pier Towers, also claimed the life of a 45-year-old woman believed to be the girl's mother, while the teenager remains missing despite extensive search efforts.

Humberside Police reported that Mark Ratcliffe of Withernsea was pulled unconscious from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. The woman's body was recovered shortly afterward. Authorities have stated that the circumstances surrounding the deaths are not considered suspicious, and specially trained officers are providing support to the families involved.

The tragedy unfolded when the girl, estimated to be around 15 years old, descended the concrete steps of the Pier Towers and was knocked into the sea by waves reaching up to 12 feet high amid bitter, snowy conditions. Eyewitnesses described a frantic response as bystanders rushed to assist. Paul Whitehead, owner of the nearby Castle Cafe, whose CCTV footage captured the event, said his staff...