Friday 30th April 2010
Date: Friday 30th April 2010
Wind: WSW 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Slight
Time of launch: 2215hrs
Time of return: 2315hrs
Boats launched: ALB + ILB
Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Amble Lifeboat and Amble ILB after receiving a 999 call from a member of public stating they had seen what they thought to be a red flare, somewhere in the area between Amble and Coquet Island. With Amble ILB searching the shoreline of Coquet Island with the help of the RSPB wardens, and Amble Lifeboat conducting a sweep of the area with Amble Coastguard team on the shore to assist the area was searched very quickly with nothing found. As the search was underway a chinese lantern was witnessed to be released somewhere in the Amble area which floated straight out to sea right over the search area. The first informant confirmed the chinese lantern was exactly what they had seen previously and so, with that information and nothing found in the area, all units were stood down and returned to station. Call was put down as a false alarm with good intent.