“My life is never going to be the same”: tributes paid at Withernsea deaths inquest
An inquest into the deaths of three people in the sea off Withernsea has heard tributes from their families
Last updated 4 hours ago
An inquest has heard tributes from the family and friends of three people who died in the sea off Withernsea earlier this year.
45-year-old Sarah Keeling and her 15-year-old daughter Grace died after getting into difficulty in the water on 2 January.
67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe also died after going into the sea in an attempt to rescue them.
Hull Coroner’s Court heard today (28 May) how Mark Ratcliffe’s wife described him as a “hero”.
Carol Ratcliffe said: “My grandson kept asking if grandad was coming out of the sea… we told him grandad was a hero.”
The court also heard from Jonathan Keeling, who described his wife Sarah and daughter Grace as “inseparable”.
He said: “My life is never going to be the same again.”
A statement from one of Grace’s friends described the moment the teenager disappeared into the water after taking photos near the seafront.
Grace's friend told the inquest: “One minute Grace was near the wall and the next she was gone.”
The teenager said Grace’s coat “kept going over her head” as she screamed for help in the water.
CCTV footage was shown during the hearing of Grace disappearing into the sea while taking it in turns with a friend to take photos in front of the spray from the waves.
The hearing was told Sarah Keeling ran into the sea in an attempt to save her daughter as huge waves crashed around them.
Former fisherman Barry Appleby said he sounded his horn and shouted warnings as waves of up to 12 feet battered the seafront.
A statement read out on behalf of Barry said both Sarah and Mark were repeatedly struck against the sea wall by powerful waves.
Police officers described conditions as extremely dangerous, with freezing temperatures and three-metre breaking waves at the time of the incident.
The inquest continues.