Hoax 999 caller sparks water rescue operation on Black Country canal
A water rescue operation was sparked when 999 operators lost contact with a a man who claimed he had bumped his head near a canal in the Black Country.
Emergency services were called to Sedgley Road East, Tipton, near where the canal crosses Dudley Port, at 6.30pm yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance received a call from a man who said he had bumped his head whilst out walking along Netherton tunnel.
They then lost contact with the man and emergency crews were dispatched amid concerns the man may have fallen in the water.
A water rescue unit and firefighters from Tipton were used in the operation, and crews spent some time at the scene.
West Midlands Police spokesman Lee Page said today: "There was concern that he'd fallen in the fallen, but following a thorough search of the canal, nobody was found.
"We're treating it as a false and malicious call."
