It just might be 'Fake News' but there's RNLI officers quoted in this article...
News story...
Heroic rescuers who saved a child who drifted out to sea on a lilo were stunned to be sent a bill by the parents - for the cost of a £7 inflatable lilo.
Mike Carter, president of the RNLI branch, said a rescue helicopter had to be used to save the youngster when she got into a precarious situation.
A crew member then jumped into the water to save the girl, but left her inflatable lilo in the water off Porthleven, in Cornwall.
The commanding officer said the rescue cost around £7,000, and so he was left stunned to be presented with a bill for £7 from the parents of the girl they had saved - for the cost of the lilo.Mike said: "A family visiting Porthleven purchased a lilo from a local shop and went to the beach."
There was an off-shore wind and the parents immediately experienced their child waving goodbye as the lilo went further and further out.
"The coastguard scrambled the SAR helicopter which was soon on scene."
The diver jumped from the the helicopter and saved the child.
He instantly put a knife through the lilo to save any further drifting and they were both winched to safety.After receiving the invoice, Mike said the rescuer replied saying they would happily pay - if the family paid for the cost of launching the helicopter.
He said: "Two weeks later the commanding officer (CO) of 771 received a request to pay an invoice for £7 the cost of the lilo."The CO wrote replying: 'I will be happy to pay your invoice on receipt of payment for the helicopter rescue £7,000.' No response was received."