A 67-year-old man who died trying to save two people in difficulty in the sea has been described as “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold”.

The family of Mark Ratcliffe named him as the man who was pulled unconscious from the sea at Withernsea, East Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon. Police said he died at the scene.

Ratcliffe died trying to rescue two people in the sea. One of those was a 45-year-old woman whose body has been recovered. A large-scale sea search for a third person was stood down by the coastguard on Saturday afternoon.

In their tribute, Ratcliffe’s family said he was “a true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others”.

“So many lives are now shattered that you’re gone,” they said. “You were loved by so many people, and we will all miss you for ever.

“A loving husband, father, son, brother and the best grandad anybody could ever wish for. Sleep tight, we love you, we miss you.”

Emergency services were called to Central Promenade in the East Yorkshire seaside resort on Friday at 3.15pm, responding to reports of there being people in difficulty in the water.

Witnesses said they had seen people rushing in to rescue a young woman who had fallen in to a treacherous sea.

Humberside police said Ratcliffe’s family would be supported by specialist officers.

A spokesperson said residents would “continue to see an increased police presence in and around the area as officers continue to search for the one remaining missing person”.