After a spate of recent false calls, Coastguards are warning hoaxers that making such calls is a criminal offence and could lead to prosecution if they are identified.
The latest, simply saying 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday', sparked a major land and sea search in the South Pembrokeshire area on Friday evening. Emergency rescue services were alerted after a call was received in the coastguard operations room at Milford Haven at 7.48 pm. The radio message was picked up by an aerial at Monkstone Point, near Saundersfoot.
Immediate action to contact the caller was instigated, with no result, so because of the seriousness of the situation, coastguard teams from Tenby, Manorbier and Laugharne, and the RNLI all- weather and inshore lifeboats from Tenby were tasked to search the coast and sea area between Lydstep Point and Ginst Point at the mouth of the River Taf.
Harbourmasters from Tenby and Saundersfoot also checked their vessels and CCTV, while Dyfed Powys Police assisted in checking their databases of vehicle owners etc.
The crew of the new lifeboat, the Tamar class, Haydn Miller, used its sophisticated equipment to undertake numerous sweeps of the area, while the inshore lifeboat searched the bottom of the cliffs and coves.
"With nothing found, the search was called off at 10.30 pm," said Angie Smith, DPRO, at Milford Haven.
"The incident was classed as a false alarm with malicious intent."
Over the past couple of weeks, several incidents with the spoken word 'Mayday' have occurred, with the word being heard on aerials sited at Gower, Tenby and Hartland. "All have been hoaxes," continued the coastguard officer. "Not only is this extremely irresponsible of the persons making these false calls, it is highly dangerous for those in genuine trouble, as life saving resources could be deployed on a false alarm and in a different area.
"For the person playing this game, beware. Making a hoax call is a criminal offence and if you are found, you may be prosecuted."