The drama unfolded on Friday afternoon. According to witnesses, Grace was standing at the bottom of the stairs, while her 45-year-old mother, Sarah, was a little higher up. What at first seemed like a slightly adrenaline-filled experience turned into a tragedy in an instant.
One of the massive waves, which reached a height of up to 3.60 meters, caught the girl and dragged her into the icy water. Mrs. Sarah did not hesitate for a second and threw herself into the sea to help her daughter ashore.
Here’s the hero who risked everything to save others: Mark Ratcliffe, a 67 year old grandad, tragically died after entering the icy sea in Withernsea to rescue a teenage girl swept away by a massive wave and a woman in distress.
His family called him “a true selfless hero with a… pic.twitter.com/8UGO8RDTnp
— Queen Natalie (@TheNorfolkLion) January 4, 2026
A bystander, 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe, behaved similarly despite the strong wind and cold.
Witnesses later confirmed that the two were almost within reach of Grace. But the waves and water currents proved to be stronger in the end. All three suddenly disappeared from view.
After several hours, the rescuers rescued the unconscious Mr. Marko from the waves, but he died shortly afterwards. The schoolgirl’s mother was taken from the water already dead.
Grace has not yet been found. Authorities officially consider her missing, but do not believe she is still alive.
According to the Daily Mail server, another brave passer-by, 68-year-old Richard Shaw, tried to save all three. But when the waves threw him back to the shore and he broke his knee against the wall, he gave up his efforts.
“The sea was very rough. I’ve lived here for ten years but the waves were exceptional,” lamented a man whose father once died near Liverpool in similar circumstances while trying to save a dog.
“It’s a terrible situation. The sea rules here, not us,” he added.
