Man, 67, dies after getting into difficulty in freezing water off Yorkshire coast – as desperate rescue mission goes on into the night
Police tonight confirmed the death of a pensioner who was pulled from the water during a major rescue operation on the East Yorkshire coast.
Rescuers launched a dramatic search after reports of ‘several people experiencing difficulties in the water’ near Withernsea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, as the Arctic cold gripped Britain on Friday afternoon.
It came just hours after a man in his 50s died after getting into trouble on Brighton beach on New Year’s Day.
HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue rushed to Withernsea at around 3.15pm to rescue those in the freezing sea.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service initially said four people had entered the water. However, at 19.15 on Friday, HM Coast Guard stated that it had previously notified “many people experiencing difficulties in the water” and announced that it was looking for two people.
Humberside Police confirmed a 67-year-old man was pulled from the water but tragically died at the scene a short time later. The rescue operation continues until the night hours.
A Humberside Police spokesman said: ‘During initial searches emergency services pulled an unconscious man from the water. Despite best efforts, we were able to confirm that a 67-year-old man died at the scene a short time later.
‘The circumstances surrounding his death are not thought to be suspicious. Searches still continue. As the search continues, residents will continue to see increased police presence in and around the area.
Emergency services rushed to the scene during the ongoing major rescue operation
HM Coastguard sent a helicopter to the scene
Eyewitnesses reported seeing flashing blue lights on the promenade
HM Coastguard and Humberside Police were among the teams called to the scene
‘We would ask people to please avoid the area so that emergency services can operate efficiently and safely.’
It comes just a day after people were not allowed into the sea for the annual New Year’s Day swim due to big waves and followed a yellow weather warning for snow and ice along the Yorkshire coast.
While the snowfall is expected to result in showers overnight, the Met Office reported that approximately 1 to 3 cm of snow will fall, and up to 8 cm of snow may fall in places.
This is due to the Arctic cold.HE Met Office We expect daytime temperatures across the UK to struggle to exceed 0C (32F) and even fall into minus double digits in the coming days.
Search efforts continued throughout the afternoon and into Friday evening.
Local resident Darrin Stevens told the BBC he saw lots of emergency crews near the beach on Friday, adding: ‘Just blue lights, wall to wall from one side to the other.’
Another eyewitness, Karen Higgs, claimed that a young girl fell into the sea.
he said Telegram People tried to pull him to safety with a safety ring but he ‘never tried to catch him’.
‘We were all screaming at him, catch him, catch him,’ he said. ‘He didn’t do it. Then he went further. Every time he came out he went in harder.
Paul Whitehead, owner of the Castle Cafe on the promenade, told The Telegraph the sea was so rough that the girl, who he estimated to be around 15, was ‘washed away’.
He added that four men at the promenade went to help along with the girl’s parents.
‘The young girl held the ring, but it hit a wave and she couldn’t hold on and sank,’ he said.
While the teams continued their work in the region, they called on citizens to stay away from the area.
Major rescue operation brought together all emergency services in the area
Earlier this evening HM Coastguard issued a statement saying: ‘HM Coastguard are searching for two missing persons off the coast of Withernsea today, 2 January.
‘Assets first dispatched to the scene at around 3.10pm following reports of people in difficulty in the water included an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull, the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and the all-weather lifeboat and Hornsea Inshore Rescue from Bridlington.
An air ambulance was also sent as well as the ‘Yorkshire Ambulance Service’. Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue are also present.’
