Search for swimmer in difficulty in Sliema called off after false alarm

Emergency services raced to the scene after report filed

Updated 3.17pm

A search in the sea off Sliema for a man who was reported to be in difficulty while swimming has been called off after police said it was a "false alarm". 

Video footage from the scene showed two Armed Forces of Malta boats searching the waters near Exiles as a helicopter circled overhead.  

The Civil Protection Department marine section was on site by 1.30pm, with ambulance services waiting on land nearby. 

Emergency responders search the coast off Sliema following a report that someone had gotten into difficulty while swimming.

Sources told Times of Malta that the emergency response was triggered after a woman from Sliema called 112 to report a man in the water who appeared to be having difficulty reaching the shore.

The man was reported to be wearing red swimming trunks. 

Swimmers said the sea around the Sliema/ St Julian's coast was relatively rough on Friday. 

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