Lifeboat crews' lives are put at risk by hoax calls

The call, made on Sunday night, reported that a dinghy was sinking just off Pwllheli on the Lleyn Peninsula.

The area's lifeboat was launched and an RAF helicopter was scrambled, but nothing was found.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the man made a similar call in January.

An agency spokeswoman said: "The response from the public has been excellent and we've had at least 12 callers who have identified the voice as the same person.

"It looks like the net is closing in on him."

Holyhead coastguards said the man dialled 999 from a mobile phone.

The caller reported that his small dinghy was sinking six miles off Pwllheli.

He described very calmly how something had ripped the keel off.

"I've got flares but I thought I'd phone you," he said.

"The weather is quite calm. I've only got my mobile and there's only one bar of battery left."

The area was searched, but nothing was found.

Members of the rescue services..put their own lives at risk often in horrendous conditions Carl Hiltunen

Police also went to the address given for the mobile phone but the details did not correspond.

It was later found that the hoax caller had done a similar thing on 6 January reporting that his vessel was out of fuel.

Carl Hiltunen, Holyhead Coastguard Watch Manager, said hoaxes were "wasteful and potentially life-threatening."

"Members of the rescue services are called away from homes and families, and put their own lives at risk often in horrendous conditions," he said.

"Although we cannot put a value on human life we know that this hoax call cost at least �20,000.

"The important thing is that this hoax caller is found.

"Hoax calls can, and in this case did, tie up a valuable maritime search and rescue resource which might have been required elsewhere in a real lifesaving incident," he added.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have appealed for anyone with information to contact Holyhead coastguards on 01407 762051 or their local police station.