Hoaxes risk lives, warns Coastguard after fake 999 call

The St Catherine’s Lifeboat, Fire and Rescue Service, Coastguard and civilians on private vessels leapt into action near Bouley Bay after the call sparked a mayday broadcast.

After a lengthy search and rescue operation, the emergency services were stood down when the call was found to be fake.

Writing on social media the Coastguard said fake calls put the lives of the public and emergency services at risk.

The hoax came just days after Islander Joy Godfray (31) was killed when she was washed off a slip near Green Island. Fire and Rescue service staff in their inshore rescue boat battled treacherous conditions to try to save her but she was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Read more in Thursday’s JEP

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