A message that led to a major search involving two helicopters, two lifeboats and three coastguard rescue teams in Torquay is suspected to have been a hoax.
Around 35 people have been searching for a person reported to have fallen on the cliff at Meadfoot beach at around 2.15pm.
A spokesman for Brixham Coastguard said at around 5pm: "A telephone call or text message was received by a friend of a person reported to be in difficulty in the Meadfoot beach area. The friend, who was in Wales, contacted the ambulance service. Information was very scant. We're coming to the conclusion it's likely the message was a hoax."
A search area was established as far as Hope's Nose.
Torbay, Berry Head and Teignmouth coastguard rescue teams, the inshore lifeboat, all-weather lifeboat, Torbay harbour patrol boat, police helicopter and air ambulance all joined the search.
The spokesman said: "Nothing untoward has been found. The boats and helicopters have now been released but the search is continuing on land until the area has been covered."
Speaking on the possibility of it being a hoax, he added: "A search like this causes a lot of work and the search and rescue units could have been taken away from another rescue.
"The police are trying to locate the originator of the message."
