A RESCUE helicopter pilot’s life was put in danger when a high powered laser beam was fired into his cab as he responded to a hoax call-out.

The Hampshire Solent Coastguard pilot could have been blinded and his crew’s lives put in danger when they were targeted as they trawled Southampton’s Itchen River for a man they were told had jumped from Northam Bridge. The call later turned out to be a fake.

Now police have launched an investigation into the attack after the crew handed over video footage of the incident.

Officers have already arrested a man on suspicion of making the malicious call, which led to the intensive search operation on Friday night.

The high-powered beam was blasted into the Lee-on-the-Solent-based helicopter when it joined coastguard rescue crews from Hill Head and Southampton as well as Hamble’s lifeboat crew.

Mike O’Sullivan, watch manager for Solent Coastguard, said: “During the course of the search a powerful laser beam light was fired into the cab of the Coastguard rescue helicopter.

‘These hand-held lasers are highly dangerous and can cause a pilot to become distracted or even blinded putting all the crew at risk.”

A Daily Echo investigation revealed that hundreds of lives are being put at risk each year by growing numbers of cases of people using the dazzling pens to target planes flying in and out of Southampton Airport.

Attackers have been reported to shine the powerful rays at planes flying as low as 750ft.

The beams can cause temporarily blindness in pilots just as they carry out crucial manoeuvres above Hampshire.

In 2008 the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recorded two major incidents. In 2009 this climbed to seven – but in 2010 there was double that number.

Anyone has any information contact Hampshire police on 101.