Llandudno,North Wales - Rhos on Sea major air and sea search launched after hoax call

A man wet up to the waist reported seeing someone in the water, but the claim turned out to be 'malicious'

• 3 APR 2016
• BY KELLY WILLIAMS

Rescue teams called out but man who claimed to have tried to save someone in water alleged to have made 'malicious' report

A hoax caller sparked a massive air land and sea search after falsely reporting seeing someone enter the water in Rhos on Sea

Police, paramedics and the search and rescue helicopter raced to the scene just after 2.40am this morning, along with crews from Llandudno Coastguard and the RNLI .

On arrival, they found a man wet from the waist down claiming he had been in the water attempting to rescue a man he had apparently seen enter the sea.

But police discovered the call was malicious dealt with the man at the scene.

A spokesman for Llandudno Coastguard said: “ We were paged at 2.44am to reports a person had entered the water at Rhos on Sea.

“We arrived on scene first and were able to speak with the first informant who told us he saw a person walking into the water approximately 30 minutes before our arrival and that he had attempted to go after them.

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“Llandudno lifeboat crew were paged and North Wales Police, the Welsh Ambulance Services and Rescue 936 (helicopter) also attended.

“The lifeboat conducted search of the water while we, along with some assistance from the lifeboat shore crew, conducted a shoreline search form Colwyn Bay Pier to the slipway at Rhos on Sea.”

Llandudno Coastguard

An emergency rescue mission was launched in Rhos on Sea after hoax reports of someone lost in the water

The spokesman added: “The informant was wet from the waist down as he had been in the water attempting to rescue this person so we warmed him up in our vehicle.

“Whilst the air, land and sea search was ongoing and an ambulance standing by, the police began to make some enquiries where details started to emerge to suggest this call might not be as it was initially reported.

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“Following further enquiries it was determined that a malicious call had been made and that no one had actually entered the water.”

When Holyhead Coastguard was satisfied no one was in danger, all agencies were stood down.

Llandudno Coastguard returned to their station at 4.45am while police dealt with the hoax caller.

North Wales Police have not confirmed whether anyone was arrested.

see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rhos-sea-major-air-sea-11130564