SOLENT Coastguard were forced to turn down two pleas for help from Hampshire police because they were too busy with a search and rescue operation that turned out to be a hoax.

A major search was launched after coastguards received a mayday call from a man claiming to have been swept from his canoe in waters off St Catherine’s Point on the south of the Isle of Wight yesterday.

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Rescuers from Bembridge and Needles and a coastguard helicopter were mobilised and searched for more than five hours for the stricken canoeist.

Other units which respsonded to the call included the Hampshire police launch Geoffery Rackham, Ministry of Defence Police launch Loyalty, Brittany ferry Ponte de Aven and a Lynx helicopter from HMS Ark Royal, which was on sea trials in the area. However, the search was called off shortly before 5.20pm after rescuers agreed the call had been malicious.

During the search, two requests for help in missing persons searches had been received from H a m p s h i r e police, both of which had to be turned down.

A coastguard spokesman said: “During the search we had to turn down two requests from police. Our primary role is maritime search and rescue and that always takes precedence.

“However, it goes to show malicious and hoax calls can seriously detract resources from real emergencies that are happening elsewhere.”