A major search and rescue operation on the Yorkshire coast has ended with two fatalities, as emergency services battled treacherous sea conditions.
Search launched amid 'horrendous conditions'
Officials were first alerted to reports of people in difficulty in the water near the seaside town of Withernsea at 3.10pm on Friday, 2 January 2026. HM Coastguard coordinated a large-scale response, deploying a search and rescue helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft to the scene on England's east coast.
The rescue operation involved multiple agencies:
- Local coastguard and RNLI rescue teams
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service and an air ambulance
- Humberside Police
- Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
However, the severe weather significantly hampered efforts. Hornsea Inshore Rescue, a local independent volunteer group, stated it was unable to launch its lifeboat due to "horrendous conditions and three metre waves breaking on our slipway."
Two fatalities confirmed
During the operation, a 67-year-old man was found unconscious in the water. He was later confirmed to have died. Late on Friday evening, Humberside Police announced the recovery of a second body from the sea.
The force added that the "circumstances are not believed to be suspicious." The search for another person, who was still thought to be missing, was stood down at around half past midnight. It was scheduled to resume at first light on Saturday morning.
Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to work unimpeded.
Freezing temperatures and severe weather protocol
The tragedy unfolded as temperatures in Withernsea were forecast to drop to freezing overnight. The local council has activated a severe weather protocol in response to the cold snap.
This incident follows a warning from the rescue volunteers. In a social media post on Thursday, 1 January, Hornsea Inshore Rescue said it had called off a planned New Year's Day public swim because "the sea conditions were just not suitable today for us to condone anyone entering the water."
It also comes after a separate incident where a 51-year-old man died after getting into difficulty in the water in Brighton.
