A mass search was carried out after teens were spotted at the base of cliffs at St Bees.
A camper at the nearby Seacote Park had spotted the youngsters heading north at the base of the cliffs yesterday, July 14, but did not see them return so called 999.
Whitehaven and Maryport Coastguard rescues teams were called by police and an immediate search was launched.
Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team said: “Having kept a watchful eye they hadn’t been seen returning and so they were becoming increasingly concerned.
“With strong winds, a heavy sea and it soon to reach high tide, Whitehaven and Maryport Coastguard Rescue Teams were deployed to investigate.
“On arrival, Coastguard rescue officers set off to do a shoreline search around the rocks at the base of the cliffs for several hundred metres, plus rope rescue team members searching the cliff top paths having accessed via local farm owner access points.
“A request made for St Bees RNLI to launch and assist in searching the shoreline and up the cliffs for anyone who may have attempted to climb out on to the cliff tops and become stuck.
“Enquiries were made with police to confirm no overdue persons were reported.”
A Coastguard helicopter also joined the search and used an infra-red HD camera system to scan the area.
The team added: “Following a thorough land, air and sea search with nothing found and no one reported overdue, all assets were stood down in the early hours.”
Earlier that day, at around 8pm, the Coastguard teams plus Workington RNLI had been called out by Cumbria police after reports of a missing person in Whitehaven.
Workington RNLI was called out to carry out a visual search of the cliffs and coastline from the sea.
Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team said: “Search teams were dispatched to conduct an immediate hasty search of the initial planning point. With more information becoming available, a Coastguard search team was able to be directed onto an area and locate the missing person who was handed into the care of police.”
