CRIES for help turned out to be noises from daring bathers as they attempted to go for a dip off the Purbeck coast.
Walkers called coastguards on 999 when they heard what they thought were distress calls from below the cliff near St Aldhelm’s Head around noon yesterday.
Portland Coastguard launched a search involving a ground team and the Portland search and rescue helicopter while the Lulworth Ranges boat Smit Wey offered its services.
A coastguard spokesman said: “Following a thorough search, coastguards came across a group of people walking away from the area and after a fair bit of questioning they reluctantly admitted to trying to swim in the water at Chapman’s Pool.
“The shouts that had been heard earlier were from the group who were reacting to the water being so cold.”
Coastguards said they would like to thank the Army for calling a ceasefire while the helicopter flew across the range area on its way to the potential emergency.
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