Exmouth RNLI has warned sailors to keep an eye on their property after an untendered dingy put the emergency services on alert.
Lifeboats were deployed by the RNLI, just after midday yesterday (Wednesday, August, 24), when a call was received reporting the incident in the River Exe.
The search for a missing person was called off two hours later when the dingy, which contained personal belongings, was claimed by two men aboard a sailing boat.
Exmouth RNLI Coxswain Steve Hockings-Thompson advised people to take care of their property in order to try and prevent similar incidents.
He said: “Soon after our return, the owner of the dinghy has thanked us through our Facebook page and he realises the gravity of his actions.
“We advised him to mark his tender clearly in case a similar situation should happen. Luckily we had a positive outcome today and we would rather be called out on a false alarm than deal with alternative results.”
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