Man dials 999 because his video game character got shot in the chest
A man frantically alerted emergency operators all because one of his Grand Theft Auto characters had taken a bullet.
David Helens dialled 999 informing emergency operators that "Max" was dead after being attacked.
The video gamer also made fake screaming and shouting sounds to make his case all the more convincing.
The call resulted in two ambulances being sent to his home in South Shields, Tyne and Wear in England.
"This man’s behaviour on the telephone made me feel concerned. The whole incident has left me feeling a bit shaken," said the person from North East Ambulance Service who took the call, at a court session.
Prosecutor Christopher Rose said: "The call lasted for approximately 12 minutes.
"The caller said he was at an address and that he was with another man called Max who had suffered a gunshot injury to his chest.
Slipping in and out of consciousness
"He said the man was slipping in an out of consciousness and bleeding badly.
"An ambulance had to be dispatched and, once the call handler was told the man had stopped breathing, and that he might be dead, this information had to be treated as a possible cardiac arrest and a second ambulance was called."
The prosecutor also added that Helens claimed that he himself was attacked by a third person - hence the fake screaming and shouting.
"The call taker said that this caused her to be very concerned for his safety and that of "Max."
Helens admitted to making the false emergency call on Nov 9 and received 12 months of community order.
Source: Metro
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