Weird or what?

[g-force]

I've heard of a few reasons over the years for the lifeboats being called out, but this has to be the weirdest I've come across........

BBC News - Tynemouth lifeboat search after planet Jupiter mistaken for flare

Gary

[seanyrooroo]

pmsl

At least the member of public was on his toes, better safe than sorry and all that.

[<(Andy2009)>]

pmsl

At least the member of public was on his toes, better safe than sorry and all that.

Exactly mate. A simple mistake but better to be safer than sorry, suprised we didnt see the comotion from the cliffs last nite, though our eyes were fixed on our rod tips and the many shooting stars we seen that night.

Well done for the cracking work of the RNLI and RAF Seaking, although luckily this time, it was a false alarm.

[Red5]

I've heard of a few reasons over the years for the lifeboats being called out, but this has to be the weirdest I've come across........

BBC News - Tynemouth lifeboat search after planet Jupiter mistaken for flare

Gary

You'd be surprised mate...We've been called out for someone thinking the lights on a plane were a flare, and the amount of false alarms for chinese lanterns is well up there also.
My fear is that someone does actually assume it is something OTHER than a flare when it could well be a genuine person in distress.

There is nothing wrong with reporting something you see, if you genuinely believe it is a red flare.

If you see soemthing suspicious, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard

[lingking]

false alarm good intent,i wonder how many in a year,for the rescue services

[g-force]

Yeah, it struck me in particular as a few nights earlier I'd been on Blyth beach and noticed just how bright it was low in the eastern sky - in fact at first I was convinced it was a plane, until after a few minutes I'd noticed it wasn't moving. I've heard of many cases of planets being reported as UFOs & stuff, but that was a new one to me!

As you say though, always best call in anything that might be a genuine call for distress, just in case........

Gary

[Red5]

false alarm good intent,i wonder how many in a year,for the rescue services

We get a few, but if just one of them turns out to be genuine and we help someone in distress then I am not complaining.