[imagesource:Facebook/DFW Fire & Rescue NPC]

A frantic call to the DFW Fire & Rescue emergency control room last night had responders rushing like mad to save a life—only to find out it was all just an uncalled-for prank.

Someone thought it’d be a good laugh to send the heroes on a wild goose chase for a non-existent crisis. A distraught woman called the emergency hotline at approximately 10:30PM, reporting that a family member had been bitten by a venomous snake at a rural farm labour cottage.

DFW medical responders were on their toes from the get-go, with ambulance services on high alert. Two volunteers rushed to the scene, ready to cart the patient off themselves if need be. All the while, the team stayed in constant contact with the caller, doling out first-aid advice and consulting with medical experts, bracing for what appeared to be a full-blown emergency.

The caller even sent a disturbing photo of the alleged snakebite wound to emphasise the emergency.

“The caller was hysterical, pleading for help,” said Daan van Leeuwen Boomkamp, a senior responder with DFW, Cape {town} Etc reports.

“Our team immediately sprang into action. Lives were potentially on the line, and we knew every second counted.”

But when they finally arrived, the responders were hit with the bitterly frustrating realisation that the whole thing was a hoax.

To make matters worse, a friend of the young man showed up at the DFW Rescue group’s gate in tears, begging for help. This only cranked up the urgency, making the prank all the more outrageous.

“We are appalled and disappointed by this reckless behaviour,” van Leeuwen Boomkamp said.

“Our responders are trained to save lives, not to be the butt of a cruel joke. This prank wasted precious resources and time that could have been used to help someone in a real emergency.”

The incident has sparked fury within the DFW community, which depends on volunteer responders. Pranks like this don’t just waste valuable time—they endanger lives by pulling resources away from real emergencies.

“This kind of prank is not only irresponsible but also potentially deadly,’” van Leeuwen Boomkamp said, reminding everyone that the emergency services should never be treated as a game.

“Let’s work together to ensure that these resources are available for those who truly need them.”

Please, okes, use your emergency services responsibly.

[source:capetownetc]