A major search and rescue operation resumed at first light on Saturday morning off the East Yorkshire coast, following a tragic incident in which two people lost their lives. Emergency services are battling freezing temperatures and perilous sea conditions as they continue to look for one individual still missing near the seaside town of Withernsea.
Search Operation Launched Amid Perilous Conditions
The HM Coastguard confirmed that the search near Withernsea restarted at 6.30am on Saturday 3 January 2026, after being paused shortly after midnight. Officials were first alerted to reports of people in difficulty in the water at 3.10pm on Friday.
A multi-agency response was immediately launched, involving:
- Coastguard Rescue Teams from Hull, Withernsea, Hornsea, and Bridlington.
- A search and rescue helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft.
- Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue.
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service and an air ambulance.
- RNLI rescue teams.
Despite the extensive efforts, the severe weather significantly hampered the operation. The volunteer group Hornsea Inshore Rescue stated it was "unable to launch the lifeboat due to horrendous conditions and three metre waves breaking on our slipway."
Two Lives Confirmed Lost
During the initial response on Friday, a 67-year-old man was found unconscious in the water. He was later confirmed to have died. In a further tragic update late on Friday evening, Humberside Police announced the recovery of a second body from the sea.
The police added that the "circumstances are not believed to be suspicious." Searches for a third person remain ongoing, and the public has been asked to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work.
Freezing Weather Compounds the Tragedy
The rescuers are facing exceptionally dangerous environmental conditions. Temperatures in Withernsea were forecast to drop to freezing in the early hours of Saturday, with the Met Office predicting a peak of just 2C that would feel more like -4C due to wind chill. The local council has activated a severe weather protocol in response to the cold.
This incident follows another recent water-related tragedy, where a 51-year-old man died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Brighton. The Hornsea Inshore Rescue group had also called off a planned New Year's Day public swim due to unsafe sea conditions, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by the winter waters.
The community now waits anxiously as dedicated rescue teams persevere in their challenging and urgent search mission.
