A GROUP of children who were playing with a boat's distress equipment in Swindon caused a full-scale rescue operation in the Severn Estuary.
The incident happened at approximately 8pm on Friday when the Coastguard pick picked a weak distress signal, which seemed to be coming from the River Severn.
The Digital Selective Calling signal indicates that a vessel is in 'grave and imminent danger' so a full scale rescue effort began.
Two lifeboats from the Severn Area Rescua Association Sharpness Lifeboat Station, and two from SARA Beachley Lifeboat Station were launched at 8.12pm.
The crew of 26 carried out a detailed search of the area between Avonmouth and Sharpness was carried out by the lifeboats from the evening through into the early hours of Saturday. But they found nothing.
On Saturday a second DSC signal was picked up from the same equipment.
HM Coastguard made enquiries which revealed that the equipment was registered to a vessel in Hamble, Southhampton.
It later turned out that the boat had been sold and was on land - at a private address in Swindon.
It is believed that youngsters boarded the vessel and were playing with the distress equipment.
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