£58K PRANK (From Barry And District News)

£58K PRANK

ALMOST 60,000 of Barry taxpayers' money was wasted after a full-scale emergency rescue operation was launched - because of a prank.

And emergency services staff have slammed the culprits who could, they say, have risked the life of a crew member or left victims of a genuine emergency helpless.

The Lifeboat, Coastguard, police helicopter, Ambulance Service, police and Fire Service were all called to Barry's old harbour just after 6.30pm on Monday, after it was reported a car had been driven into the water.

While the land-based police, firefighters and an ambulance crew tried to establish if there were any trapped casualties in the semi-submerged car, the Lifeboat dispatched its boarding boat for a closer look, and was joined by the police helicopter.

According to RNLI spokesperson Gerry Adams: "No-one was found in the car and it is now believed to have been a stupid prank.

"It was time-consuming, expensive, and could have cost the life of one of the emergency service responders."

It is estimated that the cost of the operation is in excess of 58,000.

The launch of the helicopter is valued at 50,000, with the lifeboat costing around 7,000 and the fire engines at 1,000. A fire service spokesperson said that as far as they were concerned, the call was an emergency, and they treated it with the utmost importance.

But, the spokesperson said that this incident could have prevented 18 firefighters from attending a real emergency.

The car was winched out of the sea shortly after the incident.

Police are calling on members of the public for information in relation to the incident near Island Road.

The car was a white Vauxhall Astra. If you have any information, please contact police on 01446 734451.