David McKenna,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire,
Amanda Whiteand
Paul Murphy,in Withernsea
Darrin Stevens
A search operation involving multiple emergency services is currently taking place in Withernsea, East Yorkshire
A major search operation is under way due to a number of people in difficulty in the sea at Withernsea, HM Coastguard has said.
The incident was reported at the seaside town in East Yorkshire at 15:10 GMT.
The search involves a rescue helicopter, air ambulance and another aircraft.
Withernsea’s RNLI inshore lifeboat, an all-weather lifeboat from Bridlington and Hornsea Inshore Rescue are in attendance, along with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue.
A large cordon is in place along the seafront and the operation involves more than 100 members of the emergency services.
An eyewitness described “wall-to-wall” blue lights and said conditions were “bitter and freezing”.
Amanda White/BBC
Crews at the scene in Withernsea, where a cordon is in place
In a social media post, Hornsea Inshore Rescue said its 4×4 vehicle and casualty care crew were on the way to Withernsea.
Darrin Stevens, who lives nearby, said he had witnessed lots of emergency vehicles and crews in the vicinity of the beach.
“It’s just blue lights, wall-to-wall from one side to the other,” he said.
He described the weather conditions as “bitter and freezing”, with snow earlier and high waves at sea.
“It’s not a good place to be in the sea,” he added.
Darrin Stevens
RNLI crews from Withernsea, Bridlington and Hornsea Inshore Rescue are assisting in the search
Local vicar, Rev Ian Greenfield, said he was on hand to offer emotional support and prayers for “these courageous men and women who are here, possibly risking their own lives to save somebody that might be out at sea”.
BBC/David Rimmington
Humberside Police officers shining lights out to sea to help assist with the search