A report of a body seen floating in the sea off the Lido in Cliftonville today (September 16) was a false alarm made in good faith.
Emergency services were alerted at around 2pm that a suspected body was in the water in the Lido/Walpole Bay area.
Coastguard, Margate RNLI and police attended the scene. It was ascertained that the body was in fact two helium balloons that had possible then been pushed around by a seal.
An RNLI spokesman said: “The inshore boat was called out as someone thought they could see a person or body in the sea. The coastguard also attended. Two helium balloons were found. A further search was carried out byut nothing else was found. It was a false alarm but made with good intent.”
Police confirmed officers had been called but coastguard had confirmed the false alarm.
