'Please refrain from speculation' say police as body located in sea off Yorkshire coast

Humberside Police said the body has yet to be recovered from rocks due to difficult conditions at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, on Friday and no formal identification has yet be made, but the family of Grace Keeling has been told of the development.

Grace was swept into the water on January 2 and two people died after going into the sea to try to rescue the teenager – her mother Sarah Keeling, 45, and Mark Ratcliffe, 67.

Humberside Police said a body was discovered among the rocks near Holmpton Road on Thursday morning.

Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers said: “At around 8.30am, a body was discovered by Humberside Police search advisers, however due to tide times and conditions, despite every effort, it was not possible to carry out a safe recovery before high tide.

“The location was secured overnight using specialist equipment, and a cordon remains in place around the area.”

Mr Vickers added: “Today, officers and specialist teams have been working to explore every possible option in very complex circumstances to delicately recover the body.

“However, due to tide times, conditions and the location, the recovery could not be immediately carried out and has therefore been paused until it is safe to resume.

“Whilst no formal identification has taken place at this time, we recognise that this discovery comes after 15-year-old Grace Keeling was swept into the water on Friday January 2 2026, and extensive searches have followed over the last 13 days to locate her.”

The officer said: “I appreciate this update will understandably cause concern to members of the public. However, I would like to offer my reassurance that we have a dedicated team of specialists who are doing everything they can in their efforts to carry out the recovery as safely and as quickly as possible.

“Specialist officers have been in contact with Grace’s family to make them aware of this discovery, and we would please ask people to refrain from speculation with consideration and respect for their privacy.”

Mr Vickers asked the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work safely.

East Yorkshire area coroner Lorraine Harris opened inquests into the death of Mrs Keeling and Mr Ratcliffe last week.

Police have previously said that, from trawling through CCTV and speaking to multiple witnesses, it is understood that Grace and a friend were on the steps near to the rocks when she is “believed to have fallen into the water after being swept by a wave”.

Mrs Keeling and three other members of the public, including Mr Ratcliffe, immediately entered the water in an effort to save her. Police said officers were deployed along with coastguards, ambulance and fire service resources.

Mr Ratcliffe was recovered unconscious from the water during the initial searches. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, the force said. Mrs Keeling’s body was then found by the coastguard the same evening.