Two hoax calls to emergency services in north Mayo

RESCUE services in north Mayo have received two hoax calls this past week.

Ballyglass Coast Guard Search and Drone Unit have called out the hoax callers for putting lives at risk by their actions.

They highlighted the issue on social media.

The first call-out was on Thursday morning at 2.25 a.m. when the HSE ambulance requested assistance following reports that a person had sustained a back injury in a fall adjacent to the lighthouse in Blacksod.

At the scene the ambulance paramedics said there was no sign of a casualty.

A ground search team and drone team carried out a detailed search of the area and found no one.

Soon after the ambulance crew received an update from their control centre, which confirmed the initial call was a hoax.

The team responded to a second call-out on Sunday morning 12.40 a.m. when tasked by MRSC Malin following reports of a person in the water at the quay in Belmullet. Rescue 118 was also tasked and with the use of their night vision goggles, thermal imaging camera and 'nightsun', they carried a detailed search.

Again, no casualty was located.

A subsequent call from their control centre confirmed new information had been received and initial call was a hoax.

The coastguard unit stressed the impact of these calls: 'Hoax calls can put the lives of the emergency services at risk and also waste valuable time and resources.

'Hoax calls can also draw resources away from incidents where casualties need emergency care.'