Boy arrested as ‘fake help cries spark rescue bid’

A TEENAGE boy has been arrested following allegations that he sparked a major rescue operation at an Angus beach by shouting for help while standing only knee deep in the sea.

The 17 year-old was detained by officers from the Tayside division of Police Scotland after an RAF search and rescue helicopter, three Coastguard rescue teams and two lifeboats raced to the beach at Arbroath following a 999 call from a concerned member of the public.

The boy was found by rescue services standing in shallow water at the town’s beach on Tuesday night.

He was later arrested and charged with a breach of the peace and resisting arrest.

Shouting

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland’s Tayside Division said: “Police were called to Arbroath Cliffs after reports of a male having jumped into the water. A female in Victoria Park made the 999 call saying that she could hear someone shouting from the water that they were in trouble.”

A report is to be submitted to the Children’s Reporter.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the Coastguards had received a 999 call from a member of the public on Tuesday night after a young man had “jumped into the sea” near Victoria Park in Arbroath.

Helicopter

She said: “The Arbroath, Carnoustie and Montrose Coastguard rescue teams, the RNLI’s all weather and inshore lifeboats at Arbroath and a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth were all sent to the scene.

“The person was recovered by police officers as our units arrived on the scene. He had gone into the water up to his knees.”

She added: “We always would encourage people to call 999 if they see something in the water or hear something along the coast.”