RNLI lifeboat and coastguard helicopter called out along the River Medway after false alarm
15:58, 06 October 2021
updated: 16:16, 06 October 2021
A lifeboat and coastguard helicopter were spotted heading along a river earlier today.
The vessel was seen heading along the River Medway past the Medway City Estate in Strood after being called out to assist a search when a warning beacon was triggered at about 9.30am.
The coastguard helicopter spotted over Rochester
An RNLI spokesman confirmed nothing was found by crews and that it was a false alarm made with good intent.
They stressed that it was not a hoax and the all weather boat from RNLI Sheerness has now returned to the station.
A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: "At around 9.30am today HM Coastguard was alerted to an EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio beacon) activation.
"Further investigation narrowed down the location to the River Medway. The search and rescue helicopter from Lydd and the RNLI lifeboat from Sheerness were in the process of carrying out a thorough search of the area to identify if any vessels are in difficulty."
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