A CALLER who sparked a full-scale search on the River Severn put lives at risk and wasted thousands of pounds, say rescue services.
More than 20 firefighters, seven fire engines, the coast guard and SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) spent more than three hours looking for a stranded person in the water at Arlingham on Monday, March 2.
But their search was fruitless and turned out to be a hoax call.
The incident cost GRFS, part of Gloucestershire County Council's Community Safety Directorate more than £2,000.
But more importantly it posed a strategic problem – if another serious water related incident had occurred the specialist rescue crews were tied up dealing with the hoax, so they would have struggled to deal with any similar emergencies.
Station manager Nigel Limbrick, who led the search, said: "Our teams and colleagues from the police, ambulance, coastguard and the volunteer water rescue organisation SARA wasted more than three hours chasing our tails looking for someone who wasn't there.
"To say that this hoax caller was irresponsible is an understatement – if another water rescue incident had happened last night our ability to help would have been severely stretched.
"Seven crews, which is more than 20 firefighters were sent to deal with this prank together with numerous other personnel from four other rescue and emergency organisations and we would have seriously struggled to cope with another water rescue emergency – lives would have been at risk.
"This 'joke' cost us thousands of pounds – money that could and should have been used elsewhere keeping people safe and educating them on looking after themselves.
"I would strongly urge anyone who decides to make a hoax call to seriously think twice because you could be putting people in danger."