At Coney Island today, June 15 2013, NYPD and FDNY rush to the water in response to a 911 call reporting a drowning person. All swimmers were evacuated from the water as police searched the water, assisted by helicopter and boat. Swimmers were kept out of the water for an extended period, while the police, coast guards and park security scanned the area in search of the drowning victim. With no sign of anyone drowning, the NYPD and FDNY left the water front, and the remaining park security told me that they had to presume it had been a false alarm. Whilst it was a relief that they didn't have to pull a body from the water, he said that they waste a lot of time on prank calls, where real emergencies can take place whilst all of the forces are diverted elsewhere for a non-existent emergency.
© Anna Fawcus 2013
