CCTV revealed that the person who made the call had deliberately placed personal belongings on the promenade, then contacted the emergency services
Bridlington Coastguard issued a statement after the rescue attempt took ‘resources away from where they may genuinely be needed’ (Image: Getty Images)
Rescue teams launched a search effort in the North Sea near Bridlington in the early hours of Sunday – in a call turned out to be made by a hoaxer. Teams from the Coastguard, Humberside Police, and Bridlington RNLI all attended the emergency call after belongings were found on Bridlington’s promenade and an emergency call came in. It soon transpired that the person that made the call was the same person who left the belongings on the promenade, in what the Bridlington Coastguard has slammed as “completely unacceptable”.
Personal belongings were found on the promenade close to Bridlington Spa shortly after 3am on Sunday, and a search and rescue effort was launched. The search included Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team, Filey Coastguard Rescue Team, Bridlington RNLI Inshore Lifeboat and Humberside Police.
While rescue teams searched the water, Humberside Police made enquiries on the shore. A review of CCTV revealed that the person who reported the missing person had deliberately placed personal belongings on the promenade, then contacted the emergency services.
Bridlington Coastguard wrote on its Facebook page that “valuable emergency service resources were committed to what was ultimately an unnecessary response.”
The post included a statement from a Bridlington Coastguard spokesperson, who said: “We will always respond to any report that someone may be in difficulty. Every call is treated seriously because behind every report could be someone who genuinely needs our help.
“However, deliberately creating a false report of an emergency is completely unacceptable. It takes Coastguard, lifeboat and police resources away from where they may be genuinely needed and could potentially delay a response to a real emergency. We would urge everyone to think carefully before contacting the emergency services and never deliberately make a false report. Our teams are here to help those who genuinely need us, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
The Coastguard reminded members of the public to always call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if they see someone in danger or believe someone may be in difficulty at the coast.
A Humberside Police spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a concern for safety that someone had gone into the water at Bridlington Promenade at around 3.15am on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
“Officers were immediately deployed to assist Bridlington Coastguard Rescue Team, Filey Coastguard Rescue Team and Bridlington RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, and following a thorough search of the area, it is believed to be a hoax call and thankfully, no one is thought to have been injured.”
No arrests have been made following the hoax.
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