Happisburgh Lifeboat Friendly Forester 11

Two lifeboats from Happisburgh spent more than an hour searching for suspected casualties after a pair of inflatable dinghy’s were spotted floating off the north Norfolk coast.

The lifeboat crew was alerted to the two inflatables drifting in the sea near to Waxham shortly after 4pm today. (Thursday)

The station’s D class lifeboat was launched at the request of the coastguard but on arrival found the dinghys were empty. The station’s Atlantic lifeboat was then launched because of the risk someone may have fallen in to the sea.

The two boats searched the sea between Waxham and Horsey but were stood down shortly after 5pm when the coastguard was satisfied there were no casualties to be found.

Following the incident, Happisburgh Lifeboat Station has issued a warning about the dangers of using inflatables in the sea and has urged people to tell the coastguard if any go missing from the beach.

Spokesman Philip Smith said: “This highlights the dangers of inflatables. If anybody gets blown out to sea they will be in danger. “If anyone is using one on the beach and they lose it they should inform the coastguard to save us having to use resources unecessarily.”

Mr Smith said the shout had been recorded as a false alarm with good intent.