An inflatable puffin sparked a two-hour search involving three lifeboats and the rescue helicopter last night – only for it to be a false alarm.

The incident has prompted a warning over the use of inflatables at sea, although last night’s rescue was recognised as “a false alarm with good intent.”

The emergency services were scrambled when the inflatable was spotted floating out to sea at Poldhu near Mullion, with no one on it, prompting fears that someone had fallen off and was in trouble in the water.

The Penlee Inshore Lifeboat was the first to be scrambled at 6.39pm, initially to reports that a person had been blown out to sea on the inflatable.

Within ten minutes of arriving the crew had found the puffin, but with no one on board.

A lifeboat spokesperson said: “This caused major concern as it was thought that the person may have fallen into the sea.”

Falmouth Coastguard made the decision to immediately launch the Penlee all-weather lifeboat, the Lizard Lifeboat, the coastguard rescue helicopter and Mullion Coastguard Rescue team.

After nearly an hour of searching it was confirmed that the person using the inflatable had already got off on the beach before it was blown out to sea, and all rescue teams were stood down by 8.40pm.

An RNLI described it as “a fantastic effort by all those involved,” with excellent coordination by Falmouth Coastguard.

Penlee RNLI coxswain Patch Harvey said: “Thankfully the launch proved to be a false alarm reported with very good intent. It saw all our maritime rescue agencies working together in unison. A rapid coordinated response by all those involved.

“Blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea where they can easily be swept out.

“If you do use them at the beach, then ensure children are closely supervised, keep near the shore, only use them between the red and yellow flags, always follow the lifeguard’s advice, do not take them out in big waves and never use them when orange windsock is flying, as this indicates offshore winds which will blow inflatables further out to sea.”