Coastguard helicopters conduct extensive search of Caithness coast after mystery transmission
Caithness residents reported seeing coastguard helicopters on Tuesday afternoon searching around much of the coastline.
HM Coastguard confirmed that its helicopters were called out for a vessel in distress but that none was discovered during the extensive search of the far north coastline.
“We had a search on after a call made us think there was a vessel in distress but we had a big search and we can’t find anything,” said a coastguard spokesperson.
She said that “very short transmissions” were received from an unnamed station but with “nothing that was discernible as a distress”. Due to the nature of the transmission, an extensive search took place from around noon until 4.30pm. The area included much of the Caithness coastline and involved coastguard helicopters from Inverness and Stornoway.
“Thankfully, it was a false alarm and nothing was found,” she added.
