Two hoax calls cost air ambulance charity over £5,000 in one week

Credit: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

Two hoax calls have set an air ambulance charity in the Midlands back by over £5,000 in just one week.

The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity received the calls within an hour of each other on Wednesday (June 10).

One was reports of a machete attack in Handsworth in Birmingham which left people with serious injuries.

10 police officers with multiple vehicles, two ambulances and the air ambulance service were deployed - only to find out it was a hoax.

One person was taken into custody for wasting police time.

The charity is facing a £5 million deficit this year after the coronavirus pandemic affected their fundraising events.

Multiple emergency services attending a hoax call in Handsworth in Birmingham on June 10. Credit: Twitter/WMP Force Response

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, Critical Care Paramedic Karen Baker has called for people to 'think twice' before making a hoax call.

As depending on the type of call it can lead to many emergency services deploying lots of resources - taking them away from people that really need it.