TWO canoeists paddling in the swollen River Tavy last Wednesday evening sparked a massive rescue operation.
A member of the public reported the canoeists were having difficulties at about 8pm. Fire engines from Tavistock were mobilised along with two ambulances from Plymouth, the Plymouth rope rescue squad and the police.
Emergency services personnel scoured both banks of the river from the Stannary Bridge, through the Abbey Weir to West Bridge and down to Crowndale, but could find no sign of the canoeists.
PC Stuart Pearce, of Tavistock police, said there were a number of experienced paddlers in the area who could have been on the river. He thought the passerby may have mistakenly thought they were in difficulties.
Tavistock's fire chief Chris Neale said: 'We were a little bit annoyed. It was totally irresponsible to go canoeing in the dark without notifying the authorities — it could have put rescue crews' lives in danger, and the costs involved must have been huge.'
There had been another incident earlier in the evening at Lydford when an elderly woman fell into the River Lyd.
The emergency services were called, including the rope squad, but she had been able to scramble out herself.
Mr Neale said the woman and her husband had gone for a walk in the dark. She had slipped into the river and the man had seen the torch floating down the river. Thinking she had floated off he rushed back to call for help and then returned to the river.
Meanwhile the woman had got herself out of the water and returning to the house found no sign of her husband. She raised the alarm, fearing the worst.
The couple were soon reunited and treated for shock at the scene by ambulance crews.