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Funeral of mother and daughter who died at sea

Holly Phillips,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshireand
Owen Shipton,in Mansfield
Humberside Police Grace Keeling and Sarah Keeling looking at the camera while sat in a car. Grace has long brown hair and Sarah has long blond hair, both are wearing blue denim jackets.Humberside Police
Grace, left, and Sarah Keeling went into the sea at Withernsea on 2 January

The funeral of Grace and Sarah Keeling, who died after entering the sea in East Yorkshire last month, has taken place.

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

The service for the pair, who were from Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, was held at Mansfield and District Crematorium on Friday afternoon.

Funeral director and family friend Paul Brown said: "For such a tragedy to hit a family like this, there are no words. It's not just touched the local community, it's touched the whole nation."

Floral displays laid on the pavement. Yellow and white flowers are side by side with a ribbon across the middle that says Grace and Sarah.
Floral displays at the joint funeral of Sarah and Grace Keeling

Family and friends were asked to wear bright colours for Grace and leopard print for Sarah.

The funeral procession stopped at Dalestorth Primary School and Quarrydale Academy, the schools Grace attended, on the way to the crematorium, where a guard of honour, made up of the Withernsea RNLI and lifeboat crew who tried to save them, lined the entrance.

Tim Paling, head teacher of Quarrydale Academy, said: "It's about showing our last respects and love for Grace and her mum as they went on their final journey."

Hundreds of pink balloons were released by students outside of the school.

"It was a privilege and a pleasure to do that," Paling added.

A grey hearse parked near construction works. Flowers can be seen in back that spell out the name Sarah.
The hearse travels through the streets of Mansfield on Friday afternoon

Natalie Moore and Lauren Laing paid their respects as the hearse passed the schools.

Moore said: "They were all loved and it's such a tragic accident that's happened.

"It's great how the community can all come together as one to pay their respects."

Laing added: "It's heartbreaking, really, for everyone, whether you knew them or not. It's a tragedy in the community.

"I just think it says that we can all come together in a time of need."

Withernsea RNLI and lifeboat crew forming a guard of honour.
A guard of honour was made up of members from Withernsea RNLI and lifeboat crew

Ratcliffe was pulled unconscious from the sea on 2 January but died at the scene. Sarah was recovered later that evening.

Grace's body was discovered on 15 January on rocks at Withernsea beach after two weeks of extensive searches.

An inquest into the deaths of Sarah and Ratcliffe was opened on 11 January and adjourned until a later date.

The inquest into Grace's death opened at Hull Coroner's Court on 22 January and was adjourned until a later date.

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