(Withernsea, January 3, 2026) — Two people have died following a major search and rescue operation launched after reports of individuals in trouble in the sea off the Yorkshire coast. The operation, which began Friday afternoon, is ongoing as emergency services continue to search for a third missing person.
Two deaths have been confirmed amid a search for a missing individual following reports of people struggling in the water near Withernsea, England.
- Two individuals have been confirmed dead after being pulled from the sea near Withernsea.
- The search for a third person was suspended late Friday and will resume at first light Saturday.
- Humberside Police stated that the circumstances surrounding the deaths are not believed to be suspicious.
Officials were first alerted to the situation at 3:10 p.m. on Friday, according to reports. A 67-year-old man was found unconscious in the water and later pronounced dead.
Late Friday evening, Humberside Police announced that a second body had been recovered from the sea. “Circumstances are not believed to be suspicious,” the police stated.
The search for the third person, who remains missing, was called off around 12:30 a.m. Saturday and is scheduled to resume at first light, authorities said.
Search Launched Amid ‘Horrendous Conditions’
HM Coastguard deployed a search and rescue helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft to the scene, according to a statement. The rescue operation involved local coastguard and RNLI rescue teams, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, an air ambulance, Humberside Police, and Humberside Fire and Rescue.
The conditions at sea prevented Hornsea Inshore Rescue, a volunteer group, from launching their lifeboat. “Called out, unable to launch the lifeboat due to horrendous conditions and three metre waves breaking on our slipway which would knock the tractor and trailer sideways off the ramp,” the group said in a social media statement.
Hornsea Inshore Rescue had previously cancelled a planned New Year’s Day public swim due to unsafe sea conditions, stating on Thursday that “the sea conditions were just not suitable today for us to condone anyone entering the water.”
Temperatures in Withernsea were forecast to drop to freezing overnight, and the local council has implemented a severe weather protocol in response to the cold.
This incident comes after a 51-year-old man died after getting into difficulty in the water at Brighton Beach on New Year’s Day, according to reports.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by Sky News and added independent analysis and context.
