HM Coastguard Withernsea

18/06/2026

In addition to the much appreciated certificates of gallantry presented by Graham Stuart MP last Friday, HM Coastguard Withernsea also received a letter of appreciation from the office of the Prime Minister.

On Monday we were again honoured by having a huge photograph of the team unveiled in the Withernsea Queen's Jubilee Community Garden. Thank you Darren England, Marie England and Darrin Stevens for all you efforts.

More used to working in the background and responding quietly to our regular taskings, the team at Withernsea have been overwhelmed recently by the recognition and the appreciation shown by the local community which we are proud to serve and the regional and national institutions which govern us.

📸 Photo of team photo - both by Darrin Stevens

15/06/2026

It was wonderful to see and be part of the warm Withernsea welcome for Indi and her family and friends.
We send our love and best wishes to Indi and all who are supporting her and her family as they continue to make memories💙💛💙💛
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-3-yo-indi-and-her-family-through-her-brain-tumor?attribution_id=sl:3c6f5adf-b8fa-41d8-be36-e7d4c7d772e7&lang=en_GB&ts=1758916704&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_t1&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=native_options&fbclid=PAVERFWASbc5NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaeGdgCHGMAcUwIBxxeZksErZ41DyZueoIg2PzBep9fJJhF1frj6qsh7RvKbDw_aem_PxquovWs4R3wS4KUZYMe4A

12/06/2026

A very special recognition for the team 🫡

13/05/2026

Last night, Station Officer John Hickey and Deputy Station Officer Ann Bell were honoured to receive, on behalf of the team at HM Coastguard Withernsea, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Chairman's Commendation in recognition of the role the team played during the tragic incident on Withernsea seafront on 2 January 2026.

Commendations were awarded, in order of tasking, to: HM Coastguard Humber, HM Coastguard Withernsea, HM Coastguard Hornsea, HM Coastguard Hull, HM Coastguard Bridlington, RNLI Withernsea, RNLI Bridlington, RNLI Skegness, Hornsea Inshore Rescue, Humberside Fire & Rescue, Humberside Police, and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. HM Coastguard helicopter and fixed-wing crews were also acknowledged, but were unfortunately unable to attend.

The Withernsea Coastguard team is proud to receive this commendation and to stand alongside our emergency service colleagues, the charitable organisations involved, and the brave members of the public who tried so desperately to help, as we all did on that bleak day at the start of the year.

We are also deeply honoured to be recognised alongside Nigel Ratcliffe, who accepted the posthumous commendation on behalf of his father, Mark Ratcliffe — a true hero who gave his life in an attempt to save Sarah and Grace Keeling.

As individuals, we carry on with our lives; as a team, we continue to train; and as a service, we remain dedicated to making our seas and coastline a safer place. But we will never forget those who lost their lives, those who tried so bravely to help, and the people of Withernsea and the wider community who were affected by that terrible day.

HM Coastguard Withernsea
HM Coastguard Hornsea
HM Coastguard Hull
Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team
Humber Coastguard

08/02/2026

On Friday, HM Coastguard Withernsea had the great privilege of being part of a guard of honour which lined the route taken by Sarah and Grace Keeling on their final journey together. Seven members of our team and one from HM Coastguard Hornsea, along with nine crew members from RNLI Withernsea were given the honour of being part of this poignant day.

The service was extremely sad but also incredibly beautiful and it gave us a chance to find out a little about the two unique people that we grieve for. Sarah and Grace's family, friends and the wider community who came together on Friday made us feel so very welcome. We spoke with so many of them and left with a real sense of who Sarah and Grace were. It is clear they were loved so very much.

Two and a half weeks earlier we had also said goodbye to Mark Ratcliffe. The brave Withernsea man who had instinctively acted to try to save Sarah and Grace. Again we were part of a guard of honour with our friends and colleagues from RNLI Withernsea, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Humberside Fire & Rescue Service. The wonderful tributes read out for Mark were touching and showed just what a selfless person he was. The calibre of the man was clear; he could never have just stood by and not tried to help.

As we continue into 2026, our sincerest sympathies will always be with the families and friends of Mark, Sarah and Grace who are missing such special people from their lives. As a team we will carry on training on a Monday night, we will respond to the regular call outs we receive and we will continue to look out for each other.

We do hope that those who we spoke with on Friday feel strong enough one day to visit, as they have proposed. This terrible tragedy has tied the communities of Withernsea and Sutton-in-Ashfield together in grief but we hope that a bond of friendship can come from this.

01/02/2026

FREE CAKE! FREE DRINKS!
Coastal Water Safety and Fire Safety Coffee Morning 🌅 🌊 🔥 ☕️

The RNLI Withernsea Fundraisers are hosting a coffee/tea & cake morning at the Shores Centre today, Sunday 1st February, 10am–2pm.

Come along, have a brew with us, and meet some of the Withernsea Coastguard team along with the RNLI fundraisers, RNLI water safety team and the Withernsea Fire & Rescue team as well. Our volunteer crew will be there throughout the day to chat about staying safe around our coast.

We’d love to see you there, your support means everything to us. 💙💛💙💛

HM Coastguard Withernsea Humberside Fire & Rescue Service

21/01/2026

Looking forward to talking with members of our wonderfully supportive community tonight 💛💙

‼️‼️TONIGHT‼️‼️

Brew with the Crew ☕️

Following the tragic events in Withernsea, your local emergency and life-saving services are coming together to host an informal community drop-in.

This is a space for anyone who has been impacted in any way to come together over a brew, support one another, and learn about the help and professional support available as we navigate trauma and loss as a community.

What to expect:
• A warm, informal space to share a brew together
• The chance to connect with others who may understand how you’re feeling
• Information on local, accessible support services

There is no pressure to talk — you are very welcome to simply come along and be with others.

We will also take a moment to support one another and remember
Sarah Keeling, Grace Keeling, and Mark Ratcliffe.

🗓 When: Wednesday 21st January 2026, 6pm – 8pm
📍 Where: Meridian Centre (Upstairs)

Everyone is welcome. 💙

HM Coastguard Withernsea Withernsea Fire Station

20/01/2026

☕ Brew with the Crew

Following the tragic events in Withernsea, your local emergency and life-saving services are coming together to host an informal community drop-in.

This is a space for anyone who has been impacted in any way to come together over a brew, support one another, and learn about the help and professional support available as we navigate trauma and loss as a community.

What to expect:
• A warm, informal space to share a brew together
• The chance to connect with others who may understand how you’re feeling
• Information on local, accessible support services

There is no pressure to talk — you are very welcome to simply come along and be with others.

We will also take a moment to support one another and remember
Sarah Keeling, Grace Keeling, and Mark Ratcliffe.

🗓 When: Wednesday 21st January 2026, 6pm – 8pm
📍 Where: Meridian Centre (Upstairs)

Everyone is welcome. 💙

HM Coastguard Withernsea Withernsea Fire Station RNLI Withernsea

17/01/2026

HM Coastguard Withernsea would like to thank our flank teams HM Coastguard Hornsea and Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team, our emergency service colleagues at Humberside Police, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service and Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust for their incredible efforts over the last two days.

We want to send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Mark Ratcliffe and Sarah and Grace Keeling and all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and sincerest sympathies are with you all.

Statement from Humberside Police:

Following the discovery of a body among the rocks on Withernsea beach on Thursday, 15 January 2026, emergency services and HM Coastguard have now been able to complete the recovery.

Whilst formal identification is yet to take place, we believe this person to be 15-year-old Grace Keeling who was swept into the sea on Friday, 2 January 2026.

Detective Superintendent Simon Vickers said: “This was a deeply upsetting incident, and I cannot begin to understand the heartbreak felt by all the loved ones of those involved.

“We have spoken with Grace’s family and updated them, and we are continuing to support them with specially trained officers at this extremely difficult time. Understandably, they have asked for their privacy, and we would ask that this is respected.

“Grace’s body was discovered at around 8.30am on Thursday, 15 January 2026 by Humberside Police Search Advisors during the extensive searches that have continued over the last fourteen days to find her.

“Due to tide times, conditions and the location, despite every effort it was not possible to safely recover Grace before high tide yesterday. This morning (Saturday, 17 January 2026), with the help of HM Coastguard, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and other specialist assistance, we have been able to safely recover Grace.

“I would like to reiterate my thanks to everyone who offered their assistance and support in the search for Grace, your help is as always very much appreciated.

“Our thoughts and sincere sympathies will always remain with the families of Grace and Sarah Keeling, and Mark Ratcliffe following this utter tragedy.”

03/01/2026

HM Coastguard Withernsea would like to thank our emergency service colleagues at HM Coastguard Hornsea, Hull Coastguard Rescue Team, Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team, RNLI Withernsea, Humberside Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Humberside Fire & Rescue Service, Hornsea Inshore Rescue, RNLI Bridlington Lifeboats, RNLI Skegness, for their incredible efforts over the last two days.

We would also like to express our appreciation to the people of Withernsea and the wider community. Your generosity and support has been overwhelming.

Finally, we want to send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and sincerest sympathies are with you all.

After resuming shoreline searches in Withernsea for one missing person today, 3 January, HM Coastguard stood down its extensive search effort this afternoon. Please refer to police for further updates.

📸- HM Coastguard