HM Coastguard Rescues “Dummy” in New Year’s Eve Callout

On New Year’s Eve, HM Coastguard Fleetwood received a rescue call that turned out to be quite the unexpected situation. The team, always ready to respond to emergencies, was called out to investigate a report of a person-shaped object drifting in the water off the Lancashire coast above Blackpool in the North West of England.

Upon arriving at the scene, the Coastguard quickly realized that the object in question was not a person in distress but a dummy used for man overboard drills by maritime organizations and training schools. While the initial sighting may have been concerning, the team was able to identify the nature of the object thanks to a video provided by the informant.

The Coastguard commended the informant for reporting the sighting, emphasizing that it’s always better to be safe than sorry in such situations. To prevent further confusion, a rescuer entered the water to perform a tethered rescue of the dummy and safely brought it back to shore.

After ensuring that the “dummy” was not in need of any further assistance, the Coastguard handed it over to the local council for disposal. Despite the false alarm, the team took the opportunity to inject some humor into the situation by posing with the dummy for photos, which were later shared on social media.

While the callout may have turned out to be a lighthearted moment for the Coastguard, it serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and prompt reporting in emergency situations. As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry, even if it means rescuing a dummy from the sea on New Year’s Eve.