A 15-year-old boy is "utterly heartbroken" as his girlfriend died after she was pulled from the sea at a beach yesterday.
The boy himself was also airlifted to hospital but he is thought to be now recovering from severe hypothermia.
A family friend said: "He is in shock and utterly heartbroken by the loss of his girlfriend, his world."
The young couple were found following a massive six-hour search by the emergency services at Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.
They had been reported missing on Saturday afternoon having last been spotted on the promenade.
But it was not known for certain if they were in the water when the search began. Humberside Police confirmed the death of the girl, who has not yet been named, today.
Witnesses have since told how the emergency services did everything they could.
"Back and forth they went, would not give up hope," one said.
Another family friend described the tragedy as “heartbreaking” and said the girl was like a “third daughter” to her.
She said explained on social media the teen had been airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary but “unfortunately passed away”. While another described the girl as "a true diamond".
"Nurses are shocked how he managed to survive," the post added. Humberside Police said they started a search on Saturday afternoon around 1.30pm and later confirmed two teenagers were airlifted to hospital shortly after 7.30pm on Saturday.
They said: “Update in search for missing teenagers. Officers were called to Cleethorpes beach at around. 1.30pm (Saturday) after receiving reports that two teenagers had gone missing.
“Emergency Services from HM Coastguard, fire service and police attended the search in the Cleethorpes coastal area and sea, with it unknown if the two had entered the water.”
They said searches continued into the evening and just after 7.30pm “two children were rescued from the sea and airlifted to hospital for medical treatment".
They added: “On behalf of HM Coastguard, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and Humberside Police, thank you to all the members of the public who assisted in the search.”
