Two bodies recovered as search continues for ‘number of people in difficulty’ in sea at Withernsea
Two bodies were pulled from the sea in a Yorkshire seaside town following reports that “many people were suffering from water shortages”.
The alarm was sounded in Withernsea, East Yorkshire, just after 3pm on Friday, January 2.
A major search, led by HM Coastguard with assistance from the RNLI, Humberside Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue, is still ongoing as crews continue to search for another person who entered the water this afternoon.
Humberside Police confirmed the death of a 67-year-old man who was pulled from the sea on Friday evening and the body of a second man was later found.
A force spokesman said: “We can now confirm that a second body was recovered from the sea in the early hours of this evening (Friday 2 January 2026). “We do not believe the situation is suspicious.
“Humberside Police officers, along with HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue, remain in the area and a search continues for another person who went into the water this afternoon.
“We continue to ask people to avoid the area so emergency services can operate efficiently and safely.
Earlier on Friday, HM Coastguard confirmed it was searching for two men missing in the water after the alarm was raised.
A spokesman said: “HM Coastguard are searching for two missing persons off the coast of Withernsea today, January 2.
“Assets first dispatched to the scene at around 3.10pm following reports of people in distress 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 sent as well as Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue are also at the scene. Searches continue.”
Humberside Fire and Rescue Services were called to the scene at 3.40pm on Friday.
A spokesman said: “There are emergency vehicles around Withernsea’s central promenade. We would urge people to avoid this area if possible and to use caution as emergency vehicles will be moving through the area.”
In a post on Facebook early on Friday evening, Hornsea Inshore Rescue warned that conditions were unsafe and said its casualty care team was heading to Withernsea to assist.
“Invoked, failed to initialize [a] Due to the terrible conditions and ten-foot waves breaking over our slipway, the lifeboat will blow the tractor and trailer sideways off the ramp. Our 4×4 vehicle [is] “We are heading to Withernsea with the casualty care team,” he said.
Local resident Darren Stevens told the BBC he witnessed numerous emergency vehicles and crews near the beach.
He also said it had snowed before and that conditions were “bitter” and “freezing.”
“It’s not a good place to be at sea,” he added.
