Emma PetrieEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Family handout
Mark Ratcliffe was pulled unconscious from the sea on Friday
A man who died trying to save two people from the sea in East Yorkshire has been named as Mark Ratcliffe.
In a tribute, his family said the 67-year-old was “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others”.
Mr Ratcliffe was pulled unconscious from the water and died at the scene at Withernsea on Friday, Humberside Police said.
Police said another body recovered on Friday evening was that of a 45-year-old woman. Officers are continuing to search for one remaining missing person.
BBC/Joe Bilton
The search for the third person still missing continued on Sunday
Mr Ratcliffe’s family said: “So many lives are now shattered that you’re gone. You were loved by so many people, and we will all miss you forever.
“A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for. Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you.”
Mr Ratcliffe’s son, in a Facebook post, thanked the RNLI, HM coastguards and the emergency services who had done “all they could” and worked tirelessly and relentlessly in awful weather conditions.
“Bye Dad, I miss you and I will never forget the true hero and role model you were,” he wrote.
BBC/Becki Bowden
Floral tributes have been placed close to the scene on the promenade
At 15:10 GMT on Friday, the coastguard responded to reports of “a number of people in difficulty” in the water.
Eyewitnesses said they had seen people rushing into the sea to rescue a young woman who had fallen in.
What followed was a huge search and rescue operation involving about 100 emergency workers, a rescue helicopter, air ambulance and RNLI crews from Withernsea, Bridlington and Hornsea Inshore Rescue.
The search was paused at about 00:30 on Saturday and resumed at first light but was stood down at 16:00.
The RNLI thanked members of the public who they said had “assisted and supported” the emergency services.
“This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families, friends and all those impacted,” they said in a statement on Sunday.
Services took place at Withernsea Methodist Church earlier to allow people to reflect on what had happened and light candles for those who had died.
People have also placed flowers on the promenade.
Janice Holgate, who travelled from Hull, said it had been “absolutely devastating” to hear what had happened.
“I had to pay my respects just to let the families know that people are thinking about them,” she said.