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Sarah Keeling, 45, and Grace Keeling, 15, have died in the sea off Withernsea, East Yorkshire(Image: Humberside Police)

Tragic details have emerged of how a mother and young daughter spent their final moments before being swept away on a beach in Withernsea.

The tide was strong as Sarah Keeling, 45, and her 15-year-old daughter Grace decided to go down towards the sea. They stood watching the dramatic waves journey and crash along the coastline, with Grace said to be in high spirits as she ventured onto some stairs to get a closer look. Sarah then asked her daughter to turn around away from the waves, so she could take a photograph of her. Neither expected the tragedy that was about to strike, which would claim three lives.

A huge wave overcame Grace, and she was swept out to sea terrifyingly quickly. Screaming, Sarah did what most mothers would instinctively – jumping into the freezing and turbulent water to try and rescue her daughter. On land, Grace’s little brother, who reportedly had the family dog, could do nothing but watch as his mum and sister vanished from view.

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Searches were initially delayed by the high waves(Image: Hull Live)

A witness told the Metro about the tragic incident which took place in Humber, Yorkshire, on 2 January: “Grace was on the steps watching the sea. Sarah wanted to take a photo so Grace turned around to face her, then a massive wave came and swept her out to sea.”

“Sarah started screaming and jumped right in after her. Her brother, a little boy, was left standing with the dog, just crying,” she continued. “I was gonna jump in. I was screaming and shouting, ‘let me go in,’ but my mum held me back.”

Richard Shaw, 68, was walking his dog nearby when he heard the mother and daughter’s screams. He grabbed a lifebelt and, after running to the edge of the water, tried to throw it to Grace – but she was unable to reach it. Gigantic swells eventually took over Richard and pushed him up the ramp, according to the Mail Online, before another witness managed to help him up before he was swept away too.

He burst into tears as he sat, soaking wet, by the sea wall. “I was immensely sad,” he told the publication, “I knew she’d gone.” Grace had quickly been dragged out about 100 yards into the relentless waves, which were said to be breaking the sea wall that day.

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Sarah Keeling’s friend broke down in tears over the tragedy(Image: BBC)

Tragically, Sarah had also vanished. Richard added: “I knew the mother could not be stopped from attempting to save her, and it was immensely sad knowing that. This is an impossible situation, the sea is in charge here and we are not”.

Heroically, a passerby also entered the water. Mark Ratcliffe, 67, jumped into the frigid sea and terrifying 12-foot waves in a desperate attempt to save Grace – but neither he nor Sarah survived. In a moving tribute to the heroic Mark, who sacrificed his life for people he had never met before, his family said: “A true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others.

“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.”

A friend also told the Metro that she’d spoken to Grace just before she was tragically swept away. She said: “Grace was in such a good mood just before. She was very happy. It was such a shame her life got taken so soon – all in one flash.”

Explaining that the mother and daughter had a “very strong bond, she added: “Grace was a good kid and she didn’t deserve to go like this she would’ve lived a lot longer.”

Sarah and Mark’s bodies were found on the evening of 2 January. The search by the Coastguard for Grace’s remains was called off on Saturday afternoon, and whilst Humberside Police officers are still searching, she remains missing – with dozens of tributes to those who died left at the scene.

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Mark Ratcliffe was dubbed a “true selfless hero” by his family(Image: Humberside Police)

The search for all three victims was initially delayed, with the emergency services unable to launch their boats from the station due to just how big the waves were that fateful day. “An assessment was made of the launch conditions and, due to extremely large breaking waves on the launch ramp, we couldn’t launch immediately,” rescuers from the Hornsea Inshore Rescue said in a statement posted on Facebook. “A casualty care crew was dispatched to Withernsea to assist with the incident.

“Eventually, although still extremely difficult, demanding sea conditions, a decision was made that we would be able to safely launch the boat at this time. A crew of four proceeded to the scene and assisted with the search along with RNLI, the Coastguard and other SAR assets until being stood down after many search patterns had been carried out.”

The statement continued: “The crew returned to station and a safe but challenging recovery to the trailer was made. We’d like to send our thoughts and love to all involved in such a tragic incident, to all the friends and families of Mark, Sarah and Grace at this very sad time, you are all in our thoughts.”