Rescuers hailed for capsize efforts

Two men and a woman were recovered from the water by a lifeboat and rescue helicopter after the 22ft cabin cruiser Last Call overturned just outside Whitby Harbour.

One of the men and the woman died shortly after they were taken to hospital while the second man was pronounced dead.

A Force 8 gale warning was in place at the time of the tragedy and Scarborough Council had sealed off the pier earlier in the day because of high tides.

Lifeboat workers watched as 16ft waves crashed into the boat as it tried to leave the harbour and tried three times to radio the vessel to warn it to turn back but were unable to make contact. It is believed the cruiser was attempting to return to the harbour when it capsized.

The Whitby George And Mary Webb lifeboat was launched to rescue the boat's occupants, who are believed to have been visiting Whitby from Redcar, after the vessel got into difficulties and overturned 100 yards from the sea walls.

Witnesses reported seeing one person wearing a life jacket struggling in the water before drifting out to sea, while another was in the water between the sea walls.

They were described as struggling in swell of between 20ft and 30ft high and in serious difficulties.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Witnesses have commented on the brave actions of the Whitby lifeboat crew and the helicopter crew, both operating in very challenging circumstances."

Roy Weatherill, Whitby RNLI lifeboat operations manager, added his own praise for his staff, saying: "The lifeboat launched very quickly and the crew did an absolutely magnificent job to recover the two people from the water."