Someone called 999 claiming a woman had gone into a cardiac arrest at a house fire - it was a hoax

Ambulance crews raced to a house fire where a woman had gone into cardiac arrest - only to discover it was a hoax.

North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has issued a warning after the incident on Tuesday night.

Minutes after the hoax call, another 999 request was made for a person genuinely in cardiac arrest.

NWAS say vital minutes could have been wasted while paramedics attended the false claim.

A warning, posted on the NWAS Facebook page, said: "Last night a 999 call was made to reports of a house fire with a female patient in cardiac arrest. Resources were rushed to the scene only to find that the call was a hoax.

"Minutes later a further call was made nearby to a genuine cardiac arrest. With the nearest resource responding to the hoax call, vital minutes could have been lost.

"Hoax emergency calls put lives at risk."

People were shocked by the report, with some calling for hoaxers to be prosecuted.

Man dials 999 and tries to book an ambulance

Vicki Kinnon said: "That’s shocking trace the number and get them done."

Marion Tompkins added: "Shame you can’t trace them and hand them an invoice for waste of time."

"Absolutely shocking. Need prosecuting," said Ena Farnworth.

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