Community raises £20,000 for RNLI after sea deaths

A community has raised £20,000 for the RNLI after three people died in the sea.

Grace Keeling, 15, went into the water at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, on 2 January. Her mother Sarah Keeling, 45, and passer-by Mark Ratcliffe, 67, also both died while attempting to save her.

Teresa Mansell, who runs salon MeAmora at Hair Taylor in the town, set up a raffle on 6 January to "do something, anything" to raise money for the RNLI, and it quickly gained momentum.

RNLI volunteer James Medcalf said: "Thinking back to the incident and how tragic it was, the community spirit has really shone through."

The coastguard responded to reports of "a number of people in difficulty" in the water at 15:10 GMT on 2 January.

A huge search and rescue operation followed, involving about 100 emergency workers, a helicopter, an air ambulance and RNLI crews from Withernsea, Bridlington, Skegness and Hornsea Inshore Rescue.

The RNLI said the conditions at sea had been "extremely difficult with 3m waves, strong winds and very cold air temperatures" along with "challenging snow conditions" along the shore.

Speaking on BBC Radio Humberside, about the money that has been raised, Medcalf, who was inspired by his father to join the RNLI, said: "It's unbelievable, it's outstanding. What more can you say?

"There's loads we can explore doing to improve our service and save lives on the coast.

"It's going to make a massive difference to us as a service."

On 6 January after she had just set up the raffle, Mansell said: "It initially started as just something simple. It came from the feeling of helplessness.

"I messaged five businesses that we... use and I wanted to do something, anything, to try to raise a few quid for the RNLI, the volunteers."

Mansell said businesses from Withernsea, Hedon and Hull had got involved with the fundraiser.

"It's been such a tragic time and just so sad. It's been so heartbreaking to listen to what unfolded," she added.

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