Search for missing third person called off after two drown near Yorkshire

On Saturday, 3 January 2026, HM Coastguard called off a search for a third missing person off Withernsea, East Yorkshire, after two bodies were recovered from the sea. The search resumed at 6:30 am following a pause at midnight Friday, but was stood down by 4 pm. Emergency services had been alerted at 3:10 pm on Friday after reports of people in distress. A 67-year-old man was found unconscious in the water and later confirmed dead; a second body was recovered Friday evening. Authorities deployed a helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, RNLI teams, police, and fire services amid severe weather, including three-meter waves and freezing temperatures. Hornsea Inshore Rescue could not launch due to dangerous conditions. The Met Office forecast 2°C with wind chill of -4°C. The search followed a deadly New Year’s Day swim incident in Brighton where a 51-year-old man died.