Think twice before you make a hoax call: Emergency services appeal

Emergency services in Limerick have shared their frustration at hoax calls to the River Shannon, following a recent search and rescue being stood down as a bogus call.

Limerick Suicide Watch and Limerick Marine Search and Rescue (LMSR) - which are both voluntary services - deployed to the River Shannon along with Limerick Fire and Rescue, the ambulance service and the Gardaí.

However, the search and rescue was stood down within minutes, as Gardaí confirmed it was a bogus call.

Anne Coughlan, Liaison Officer with Limerick Suicide Watch, said that while there has only been about three bogus calls to the river since she began volunteering with Limerick Suicide Watch, “it’s still three too many.”

* This story and video were developed as part of an ongoing collaboration between the Irish Examiner and the Univeristy of Limerick.