Aberdeen lifeboat launches to ‘red flare’ alert off Portlethen
Was it a flare? Was it a firework? When the call comes in, the lifeboat goes out – regardless of any 'seasonal' doubts.
The lifeboat searched an area between Portlethen and Newtonhill, up to 0.5 miles offshore. With nothing found, and no further reports of flares seen, the lifeboat was stood down by Aberdeen Coastguard at 7pm and returned to her berth in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Lifeboat Operations Manager Bill Deans says: 'In view of the date, it seems likely this was a false alarm sparked by fireworks. We would ask the public, aside from organised public displays, not to let off fireworks on the coast where they might be mistaken for distress flares and cause false alarms for the search and rescue agencies.'
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