Bright lights off the coast of West Cumbria prompted a 999 call from a person who feared there was someone in distress.
Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team and Maryport Coastguard Rescue Team were training yesterday evening, Wednesday February 12, when they were called by their co-ordination centre.
Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team said: “A 999 call had been received from a member of public who had reported seeing two red distress flares over the vicinity of Salterbeck, Workington.
“Both teams mustered, with our 4x4s taking up vantage points on high ground along the area of interest, while land search teams undertook a shoreline and cliff top search between Harrington and Workington.
“A call was broadcast by our co-ordination centre staff to any vessels in the area.”
The team said a colleague from Workington RNLI reported that they had seen two red sky lanterns in the same vicinity.
The team added: “With this additional information, no vessels seen and last night also being the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations, we were content there was no one in distress, and so the co-ordination centre concluded the tasking and we were stood down, pending any further information.”
