Overview
- A day trip to Withernsea ended in tragedy on 2 January when 15-year-old Grace Keeling was swept out to sea while taking photos near the water’s edge.
- Her mother, Sarah Keeling, ran into the waves to try to save her and a local man, Mark Ratcliffe, also entered the water; both adults drowned and were recovered the same afternoon.
- Grace’s body was found 13 days later trapped among large boulders used for sea defences after a search involving the coastguard, RNLI, fire crews and more than 100 police officers.
- Witnesses at the inquest described exceptionally rough seas, with a local fisherman saying waves reached about 12ft and made a lifeboat launch unsafe, and one rescuer suffered broken ribs while trying to help.
- The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion of misadventure for Grace and said the adults died in pursuit of trying to save others, a finding that has focused attention on coastal hazard awareness and the limits of rescue in extreme conditions.