A DRAMATIC rescue attempt by a Scottish lifeboat crews was called off after the “casualty” turned out to be a seal.
Forth coastguard gave the order for two lifeboats to be launched from Montrose after receiving a 999 call.
But on arrival at the scene, half a mile from shore, crews of the £1.2 million all-weather boat and the smaller £39,000 inshore boat discovered their victim was a marine mammal.
A spokesman for Forth Coastguard said: “Someone thought it was a person drowning.
“It was a false alarm with good intent.”
He added: “It was swimming around quite happily.”
