LIFEBOAT volunteers responding to reports of a hang glider entering the sea off the North-East coast discovered instead some half inflated party balloons.
Hartlepool RNLI was paged by Humber Coastguard at about 7.32pm yesterday to search an area off Seaton Carew following a report from a member of the public that they had seen a hang glider enter the water.
The inshore lifeboat 'Solihull' with four crewmembers on board launched at 7.44pm and was on scene a few minutes later where they discovered some large half inflated silver letter balloons blowing about in the water.
ILB helm Ken Hay said: "The initial call call to the Coastguard was made with good intent and finding the object quickly brought the incident to a safe and satisfactory end."
The inshore lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road boathouse at 8.00pm and was refuelled and made ready for service again by 8.15pm.
The Hartlepool Coastguard Search and Rescue Team also attended the incident.
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