A MAN who died while heroically trying to rescue people from the sea amid “horrendous” conditions has been named.
Mark Ratcliffe, 67, was pulled unconscious from the water at Withernsea on Friday, Humberside Police said.
His family have released a grieving tribute hailing Mark as “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others.”
It is understood that Mark leapt into action to rescue people who were struggling in “horrendous” conditions in the freezing water off the east coast.
Emergency services were scrambled to the area and Mark was pulled unconscious from the sea by rescuers.
Tragically, despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The incident resulted in a major search involving a rescue helicopter, air ambulance and RNLI crews from Withernsea, Bridlington and Hornsea Inshore Rescue.
Rescue teams could be seen battling “three-metre waves” and fading daylight in “bitter” conditions off the east coast as they worked to save other people from the water.
Police confirmed that a second body, identified as a 45-year-old woman, had been recovered after the tragic incident.
Searches for another person lasted well into the evening before being called off.
