A large inflatable champagne bottle has caused confusion leading to multiple emergency 999 calls. 

Whitehaven Coastguard Rescue Team responded to a call reporting concern about an object floating in the water.

The team quickly arrived on the scene, prepared to conduct a water rescue if necessary, near Shore Road, Salterbeck, Workington (July 22). 

However, before they could reach the object, the first informant called back to inform them that it had washed ashore and turned out to be a large inflatable champagne bottle that was causing confusion. 

Several more emergency calls came in, reporting that a person had been pulled from the water in the Salterbeck area and CPR was in progress.

The team was unable to contact the first informant again to clarify the situation, so they immediately set off on foot to search for and attend to the possible casualty.

Additional assistance from North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Cumbria Police/Copeland Police was also requested.

Meanwhile, the officer in charge managed to speak with the first informant at their home and discovered that what others had mistaken for a rescue operation was actually the first informant deflating the inflatable champagne bottle on the beach.

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A spokesperson from Whtiehaven Coastguard Rescue said: "With this welcome news that there were no casualties, all assets were stood down and released.

"Whilst some may perceive this was a waste of resources, we want to stress that all informants did exactly the right thing in reporting their concerns via 999 Coastguard.

"On a future occasion, these actions may just save a life. With the tide more than half way out and the waterline a considerable distance away from those who sighted this, we fully appreciate that this could have looked like someone performing CPR.

"We would much rather the Coastguard Coordination Centre be informed on 999 to task and coordinate the appropriate assets to attend, finding it's a false alarm with good intent, than it not be reported and someone was in need," they said.