A "selfless hero" who died while trying to save two people stuck in the sea has been named by police.
Mark Ratcliffe, aged 67, was pulled from the sea unconscious by emergency services on Friday, January 2, after officers were called to Central Promenade in Withernsea, Yorkshire, at 3.15pm.
The grandfather died at the scene.
In a tribute issued by Humberside Police, his family said: "A true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others.
Mark Ratcliffe was pulled from the sea unconscious by emergency services
|HUMBERSIDE POLICE
"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."
The family are being supported by specialist officers.
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The body of a 45-year-old woman was also recovered from the sea on Friday while a third person remains missing.
“Residents will continue to see an increased police presence in and around the area as officers continue to search for the one remaining missing person,” Humberside Police said.
HM Coastguard said it was standing down its search on Saturday afternoon.
“After resuming shoreline searches in Withernsea for one missing person today, January 3, HM Coastguard stood down its extensive search effort this afternoon,” a spokesman for HM Coastguard said in a statement yesterday.
A third person remains missing following the incident in the sea off the East Yorkshire coast
| GETTYWitnesses claim the incident occurred when people attempted to help a teenage girl who had been "washed away" in the sea.
Police earlier said circumstances surrounding both deaths are not believed to be suspicious.
A rescue helicopter, coastguard rescue teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull, an RNLI inshore lifeboat from Withernsea and an all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington, and Hornsea Inshore Rescue were also among those who attended the scene, the coastguard said.
The incident occurred amid a cold snap, with several yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice in place across the country.
Rough conditions had earlier threatened search efforts when Hornsea Inshore Rescue revealed they were unable to deploy their vessel.
In a Facebook post, the organisation said: "Called out, unable to launch lifeboat due to horrendous conditions and three metre waves breaking on our slipway which would knock the tractor and trailer sideways off the ramp."
Despite this setback, the team then confirmed: "Our 4x4 vehicle (is) en route to Withernsea with casualty care crew."