A teenager has been arrested after sparking a major sea rescue operation by allegedly screaming for help while paddling in a shallow rock pool.
Emergency services rushed to the cliffs at Arbroath after receiving an emergency call only to find the boy unharmed, in water up to his knees, with the tide more than 100 metres away.
The incident came 24 hours after a genuine tragedy was averted when a 13-year-old girl was plucked from the sea by lifeboat crew at Carnoustie Bay on Monday. She remained in a critical but stable condition at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Police, lifeboats and an RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth rushed to the cliffs at Arbroath on Tuesday after the 999 call at 9.40pm.
Officers immediately told two lifeboats that had been launched from Arbroath to turn around. A 17-year-old youth was charged with breach of the peace and resisting arrest.
Last night a spokesman for the Arbroath lifeboat expressed his disappointment when the volunteer crew respond to “a hoax”.
He said: “Of course it’s disappointing when any seemingly emergency situation turns out to be a hoax because it ties up our resources.
“What we would be keen to stress though is that people should never be put off from calling 999 because they think it might be a hoax. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
On Tuesday night’s incident, he said: “We got the shout just before 9.40pm and launched both boats.”
“My understanding is that there was a group of people in the Victoria Park area with concerns that one member of the group was in difficulty in the water.
“However, the inshore lifeboat had just arrived in the area where the person was thought to be and the Arbroath lifeboat was en route when we were stood down after it was communicated to us that all members of the group had been accounted for.”
Aberdeen Coastguard watch manager Hector Sutherland said the right thing was done by calling 999, despite the fact emergency services were not needed.
He said: “We don’t want to discourage people from calling 999.
“Sea water is very cold at this time of year and the last thing we want people doing is going into the water to try to rescue people themselves. We have specialist teams to do this.
“If anyone sees anything in the water they should ring 999 straight away and ask to speak to the coastguard and we will investigate.”
The teenage boy will now be reported to the Children’s Reporter.
A police spokesman said: “We attended at the cliffs in Arbroath following concerns for a man. Following the incident a 17-year-old was arrested and charged.”