Withernsea sea hero Mark Ratcliffe could get posthumous award

Efforts are under way to formally recognise the bravery of a grandfather who died trying to rescue a mother and daughter in heavy seas in East Yorkshire, the BBC has learned.

Mark Ratcliffe, 67, entered the water at Withernsea in a desperate attempt to try to save 45-year-old Sarah Keeling and 15-year-old Grace Keeling on Friday afternoon.

The bodies of Mark and Sarah were found a short time later. Police are continuing to search for Grace.

Following calls on social media for Mark to receive a George Cross or similar award, Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire James Dick OBE said: “I am investigating the most appropriate way to recognise Mark Ratcliffe’s selfless act of bravery”.

Humberside Police said Mark was from Withernsea while Sarah and Grace were from Nottinghamshire.

The Lord-Lieutenant, the King’s personal representative for the county, added: “It is a very tragic situation where three people have lost their lives.

“My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those involved and also to the community of Withernsea, which is feeling such a tragic loss.”

His office would be “contacting people involved in the awards process to understand which award is the most appropriate”, he added.

Paying tribute, Mark’s family previously described him as “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others”.

Emergency services said they were first alerted at 15:10 GMT on Friday to reports of a number of people in difficulty in the water.

A huge search and rescue operation followed involving dozens of emergency workers and volunteers.

HM Coastguard stood down their search for Grace at 16:00 on Saturday, although police said they were continuing efforts to find her, with underwater search teams involved.

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