A mother’s last act: Probe reveals she and a brave witness died attempting to rescue her daughter at sea

A mother and bystander drowned as they tried to rescue a fifteen-year-old girl who was swept out to sea, an inquest has heard.

Mark Ratcliffe, 67, died while attempting to save Grace Keeling, 15, and Sarah Keeling, 45, at Withernsea Bay Beach off the coast of East Yorkshire on January 2.

Mrs Keeling had bravely waded into the water in a bid to rescue her daughter Grace, who is understood to have fallen into the sea after being swept by a wave.

The bodies of Mrs Keeling and Mr Ratcliffe were recovered shortly after the tragedy, while a search is ongoing to find Grace.

East Yorkshire area coroner Lorraine Harris today told Mrs Keeling’s inquest that her primary cause of death was drowning, contributed to by head and neck injuries.

Ms Harris said Mrs Keeling was a married woman who was born in Germany, lived in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and worked in international sales.

The coroner said Mr Ratcliffe’s primary cause of death was drowning, with chest injuries a contributory factor.

She said Mr Ratcliffe was born in Bradford, lived in Withernsea and was a retired warehouse manager.

Sarah Keeling, 45, is pictured with her 15-year-old daughter Grace Keeling. The mother died in the tragedy, while the search is ongoing to find Grace

Hero bystander Mark Ratcliffe, 67, (pictured) also lost his life after trying to save Grace from the water

Coastguards search the shoreline at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, early on Saturday, January 3

Each inquest opening took about two minutes at Hull Coroners’ Court and no family members were present. Ms Harris adjourned both hearings to a date to be fixed.

Humberside Police previously said officers were called to the incident at Central Promenade in Withernsea at 3.15pm on January 2.

Last week, the force said that – after trawling through CCTV and speaking to multiple witnesses –  it is understood that Grace and a friend were on the steps near the rocks when she is ‘believed to have fallen into the water after being swept by a wave’.

Mrs Keeling and three other members of the public, including Mr Ratcliffe, immediately entered the water in an effort to save her.

Police said officers were deployed along with coastguards, ambulance and fire service resources.

Mr Ratcliffe was recovered unconscious from the water during initial searches. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, the force said.

Emergency services search for Grace, after the bodies of her mother and Mr Ratcliffe were recovered from the water

Mrs Keeling’s body was then found by the coastguard the same evening.

Two other men who also entered the water in an attempt to assist with the rescue managed to exit safely, the force said.

Mr Ratcliffe’s family has paid tribute to him, saying he was a ‘true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others’.