Ormskirk Sub Aqua Club

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Can any one help? Tue 30th Aug 2005

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO HELP THE MCA.

THE Maritime & Coastguard Agency this week took the unusual step of issuing to media organisations, one of them owned by a member of this club, a recording of the hoax call which was made to their Liverpool Rescue Co-ordination Centre on Sunday 21 August 2005.

The mayday call claimed that a speedboat, was taking water 2 miles north of Skinburness Point, following engine failure. The caller from the ‘Boy David’ suggested three people onboard. He said all were wearing lifejackets. Following this broadcast, nothing else was heard.

Crosby has asked if our members could pass the mp3 on to other clubs and groups in the hopes that some one might have heard the hoax caller before.

Liverpool Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centre Manager, Sue Todd said:- “We are appealing to the public to help both the Police and ourselves identify this very dangerous prankster. There was a huge search effort by a considerable number of very dedicated people, many of them volunteers, to help try and locate this phantom speedboat and its occupants on Sunday afternoon.

The important thing is that this hoax caller is found. Hoax calls can, and in this case did, tie up a valuable maritime search and rescue resource which might have been required elsewhere in a real lifesaving incident.

Those who risk their own safety to rescue others should not be put at needless risk in responding to bogus distress calls.

Anyone who has any information on the identity of the caller are being asked to contact either the Coastguard at Liverpool on 0151 931 3341 or Cumbria Police on 01768 891999.”

As divers, we know how just how valuable maritime search and rescue resource are. As a club, we just hope they catch the hoax caller very soon. Who knows, we might have needed the search and rescue that weekend!

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-dops_pr_newsroom-press-releases-release.htm?mcga_news_id=3082&month=8&year=2005 to read press release and http://www.southportreporter.com/202/Boy%20David%20hoax-%2021st%20August%202005%20.mp3 to play the call.

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