A desperate mum who is said to have jumped into the sea to save her daughter was “just inches away” from rescuing her, eyewitnesses have said.
Rescue teams rushed to a major incident in Withernsea, on the East Yorkshire coast, on Friday, where a group had gone missing at sea.
Reports of swimmers in difficulty were first received at around 3pm on Friday, with RNLI, police, the Ambulance Service and Fire and Rescue crews all rushing to the scene.
The group are said to have struggled after freak three-metre high waves were battering the coast in “bitter” conditions.
But eyewitnesses have described the mother’s desperate attempts to save her daughter as “just inches away”.
A desperate mum who is said to have jumped into the sea to save her daughter was ‘just inches away’ from rescuing her, eyewitnesses have said
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GETTY“The daughter was on the steps when a huge wave crashed into her and swept her out,” Paul Whitehead, owner of the Castle Cafe, told The Sun.
“The current carried her down the beach where there is a slipway.”
A waitress at Mr Whitehead’s cafe, who does not want to be named, jumped into action after hearing desperate cries from the beach nearby and tried to help the girl.
“My member of staff heard what was happening and ran out to help,” Mr Whitehead continued.
“There was a crowd all trying to help get the girl.
“The girl’s mum was by my colleague’s side and they both went into the water to pull the girl out.
“Her mum went to try and grab her daughter, my colleague was just inches away from grabbing the girl too, but then the current took them both out.
“My colleague is absolutely devastated. She was incredibly brave.”
Humberside Police confirmed that 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe died in the incident after being pulled unconscious from the water.
Mark Ratcliffe was pulled from the sea unconscious by emergency services | HUMBERSIDE POLICE
Mr Ratcliffe, who is said to have entered the water to save the two people, was described as “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others,” by his family.
Mr Ratcliffe’s family said: “So many lives are now shattered that you’re gone. You were loved by so many people, and we will all miss you forever.
“A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for. Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you.”
The 67-year-old’s son took to Facebook, thanking the RNLI, HM coastguards and emergency services for doing “all they could”.
“Bye Dad, I miss you and I will never forget the true hero and role model you were,” he wrote.