Second body pulled from water during search off Yorkshire coast

Rescuers will today continue searching for a missing person off the East Yorkshire coast after two people were pulled from the water during a major search operation yesterday. 

Police confirmed a 67-year-old man and a second victim tragically lost their lives after getting into difficulty in the freezing water, near Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon as an Arctic chill grips Britain.

Rescue crews launched a dramatic rescue mission following reports of a 'number of people in difficulty in the water'.

Witnesses claim a teenage girl was caught by a large wave, near Pier Towers, before she was overwhelmed by the sea, sparking scenes of panic as people tried to rescue her.

Humberside Police last night confirmed two deaths and that they were still attempting to rescue one person from the water.

The double tragedy came just hours after a man in his 50s died after getting into difficulty at Brighton beach on New Year's Day. 

HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police, and Humberside Fire and Rescue all scrambled crews to Withernsea at around 3.15pm to try and rescue those in the freezing sea.

Rescuers stood down their search for the third person at 12.30am on Saturday morning and will resume at first light. 

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said last night: 'During the initial searches, emergency services recovered an unconscious man from the water. Despite the best efforts we can confirm a 67-year-old man died a short time later at the scene. 

'The circumstances around his death are not thought to be suspicious. Searches are still ongoing. Residents will continue to see an increased police presence in and around the area as the search continues.

'We would ask people to please avoid the area to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely.' 

They later added: 'We can now confirm that earlier this evening (Friday, 2 January 2026) a second body was recovered from the sea. The circumstances are not believed to be suspicious.

'Humberside Police officers along with HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire & Rescue, remain in the area as searches continue for one more person who entered the water this afternoon.'

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: 'HM Coastguard has been searching for two missing people in the water off Withernsea this afternoon and evening (2 January).

'First alerted to reports of people in difficulty in the water at around 3.10pm, assets sent to the scene included an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, Coastguard Rescue Teams, the RNLI and Hornsea Inshore Rescue, alongside Humberside Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue.

'After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the search was stood down at around half past midnight (12.30am, 3 January). Efforts will resume at first light, when coastguard rescue teams along with partner agencies will be sent to conduct additional searches of the area.'

It comes just one day after people were not allowed to enter the sea for the annual New Year's Day swim event due to large breaking waves, and amid a yellow weather warning for snow and ice on the Yorkshire coast. 

Snow showers are expected overnight, with the Met Office reporting a likelihood of around one to three cm of snow, with up to eight cm possible in places. 

It's due to an Arctic chill, with the Met Office expecting daytime temperatures across the UK to struggle to breach 0C (32F) and could even fall into the minus double digits over the coming days.

The search has been ongoing for much of the afternoon and into Friday evening.  

Resident Darrin Stevens told the BBC he had seen lots of emergency crews near the beach on Friday, adding: 'It's just blue lights, wall-to-wall from one side to the other'. 

Another eyewitness, Karen Higgs, claimed a teenage girl had fallen into the sea. 

She told The Telegraph people had attempted to pull her back to safety with a safety ring, but that she 'never tried to catch it'. 

'We were all shouting at her to catch it, catch it', she said. 'She just didn't. Then she was going out further. Every time she went out she came in harder.

Paul Whitehead, the owner of Castle Cafe on the promenade, told The Telegraph the sea was so rough that the girl, who he estimated to be around 15 years old, 'got washed away'. 

He added that four men who were on the promenade went to help, along with the girl's parents.  

'The young girl had hold of the ring but was hit by a wave and couldn't hold on and went under,' he said.