The emergency response was live-streamed on TikTok and a 19-year-old man from Blackpool was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. He has since been charged.

Today, a police spokesperson said: “We have charged a man in connection with a hoax call which led to an emergency response in Blackpool, involving police, HM Coastguard, the fire service and ambulance service.

“We were called to the Promenade at 2.33am yesterday ( January 13) following a report of a concern for welfare of an individual who had got into difficulty in the sea.

“After around 90 minutes of searching, it transpired this was a hoax call thought to have been linked to an attempt to boost engagement on a social media account.

“A 19-year-old man was arrested in Blackpool at 3.46am yesterday.

“Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Kian King, 19, of St Chads Road, Blackpool, has been charged with causing wasteful employment of police time.

“He’s been remanded in custody to appear at Lancaster Magistrates Court today.”

A major search and rescue operation saw police, ambulance, fire crews, coastguard and lifeboat volunteers called to the Promenade at around 2.30am, along with two search helicopters.

The huge emergency response was sparked by a 999 call, with the report claiming someone was spotted in the sea near the RNLI lifeboat station.

Twelve volunteer coastguard rescue officers and 19 Blackpool RNLI volunteers immediately answered the call, with the RNLI launching both their ILBs into the choppy Irish sea.