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Last Updated: Thursday, 17 February, 2005, 13:58 GMT
Coastguards save 165 from the sea
Eastern region coastguards rescued 165 people and three people died at sea last year, the latest report says.

More than 400 people were helped by the regional base at Great Yarmouth according to the annual report from the Coastguard and Maritime Agency (MCA).

The number of deaths reported by Great Yarmouth coastguards accounts for less than 0.5% of the incidents attended.

More than 400 people were helped and this represented a fall in the number of people making emergency calls.

Tracing hoax callers

However, suicides are up nationally by around 50% and the MCA says it is concerned about an increase in hoax calls.

In the Norfolk area there were 19 and nationally a rise of about a third.

The MCA is working with emergency services on technology which would trace hoax callers and possibly lead to prosecution.

The Great Yarmouth base patrols the coastlines of Norfolk, South Lincs and Suffolk.


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