Hoax Rescue Call in Gosport Could Have Endangered Lives
A fake emergency call in Gosport sparked a risky lifeboat rescue amid fierce weather conditions this Sunday morning.
Stormy Seas and a False Alarm
At 10:40am, one of the charity lifeboats rushed out after reports of a child in distress in Haslar Creek. The weather was brutal — heavy surf, strong force seven south-westerly winds, and two-metre swells making the waters extremely dangerous.
The lifeboat crew arrived within minutes and conducted a thorough search under challenging conditions. But just 50 minutes later, at 11:30am, the coastguard called off the operation, confirming it was a hoax.
Lifeboat Coxswain Slams Hoaxers
Chris Rudd, senior coxswain of GAFIRS, condemned the prank, warning it could have put lives at risk. He said: “The callout diverted vital search and rescue resources and put people’s lives at risk. It’s outrageous that someone would do this knowing how dangerous the conditions were.”
Emergency Services Wasted Time and Resources
The search involved:
- An all-weather lifeboat
- A helicopter from Lee on the Solent
- Police support
- The Hillhead shore-based coastguard team
The area searched centred around the shoreline behind Gosport Rugby Club, roughly two miles from the lifeboat station.
Police Question Two Teens Over Hoax
A UK Coastguard spokesperson at Fareham blasted the prank, saying: “Hoaxes like this waste valuable resources and cost a great deal of time and money. We are relieved no real child was in danger.”
Hampshire Police are now questioning two local teenagers believed to be involved in making the false call.
