LIFEBOATS and a helicopter mounted an emergency rescue operation after it was feared someone's life may be at risk.
Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team was alerted after a personal locator beacon (PSB) raised the alarm.
An electronic transmitter is used to alert rescuers that there has been a life threatening man over board.
The operation operation was mounted shortly after 7am yesterday morning after a signal was activated in Stanley Park in Liverpool with a radius of around 13 miles.
Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 939 from Caernarfon was also called in help with the search.
Wirral Rescue Coastguard Team was stood down after carrying out an extensive six hour search
Both lifeboats and the helicopter maintained a listening watch on the PLB’s transmitting frequency.
Hoylake and New Brighton Lifeboat carried out a search of the River Mersey, whist Coastguard Rescue Teams started a shore side search.
The Coastguard helicopter reported a hit on the beacon in the Canada Dock area therefore Coastguard Rescue Teams were tasked to search the docks in the area and the vessels in the vicinity.
The helicopter crew confirmed a further two hits from the area. The helicopter was then stood down whilst the Wirral team, Hoylake and New Brighton lifeboats continued searching.
READ > Driver arrested in Birkenhead after failing drug test for cocaine
An intensive search by lifeboat crews and a helicopter failed to find anyone
Lifeboats were stood down after no further signals were reported for an hour and a half.
Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team, helped by the Port of Liverpool Police continued to carry out a four hour hour extensive search.
After searching for more than six hours, the decision was made to stand down all teams pending further investigations.
Michael Buratti, station officer for Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team said: “When a personal locator beacon is activated we have to assume the worst, that a vessel or person is in need of urgent help and therefore multiple search and rescue asserts assets will be tasked to an incident such as this.
"Personal Locator Beacons are a really effective tool in an emergency, and even more so if they are registered so if you do have a PLB, please ensure that it is registered.”
To register an emergency beacon visit gov.uk/maritime-safety-weather-and-navigation/register-406-mhz-beacons
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here