Beacon sends false alarm

POLICE were sent on a wild goose chase after an unregistered emergency beacon (EPIRB) was set off.

Duty Superintendent Jo Foley said the Rescue Coordination Centre Canberra responded to an EPIRB in an area offshore from Castle Rock on Groote Eylandt about 7.30pm on Thursday.

A rescue aircraft and NT Police responded with Water Police and local Indigenous Marine Rangers.

The EPIRB was found behind a property in Angurugu with no one around.

‘‘While it was good news that no lives were in danger, people need to understand the consequences of activating a beacon in a nonemergency situation,’’ Superintendent Foley said.