A north-east coastguard volunteer has bolstered the coffers of the region’s lifeboats after they were falsely called out during stormy conditions last month.
Crews from Buckie, Macduff and Fraserburgh were scrambled to reports of a missing kayaker off the coast of Banff on November 18.
The major search and rescue operation, which involved dozens of volunteers from all three ports, was prompted by a radio message received on a dedicated emergency channel.
In rough sea conditions, all three crews searched over two days for signs of the missing person before being stood down when it was announced that the call had been made maliciously.
And now a volunteer from the coastguard has helped to recoup some of the costs incurred by the event.
Kevin Finnie, of Banff’s Coastguard team, raffled off a signed Manchester United shirt earlier this month to raise £1,500 to split between the lifeboats involved.
He presented the first of the three cheques to be given to the crews this week to Fraserburgh’s coxswain Victor Sutherland.
A spokesman for the RNLI thanked Mr Finnie for his support.
He added: “Rescuers carried out an extensive search on Saturday (November 18), followed by a scaled-back operation on Sunday but found no evidence of anyone in danger.
“Sea conditions were terrible with huge waves and high winds.
“All three lifeboats endured these conditions searching for the missing kayaker until the search was called off.
“After the event was over Kevin decided to raise money for the three lifeboat stations involved.”
A coastguard helicopter was also launched to help search for the missing kayaker.
HM coastguard duty controller Matt West said: “The voice recording has been subject to multiple playbacks and the absence of background noise has cast doubts that this transmission was made at sea in rough conditions.”
He added the rescue operation had put the lives of those involved in danger and warned hoaxers would be prosecuted.
