'Person stuck in police car' actually a CPR dummy

The front of a police car parked on a road at night. The vaguely realistic "head" of a CPR dummy can be seen in the back of the vehicle.Image source, Isle of Man Constabulary
Image caption,

The CPR dummy was in the back of the car ahead of a school careers day

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Officers responding to a resident's concerns that somebody had been inadvertently left in the back of a police car for hours turned out to be wide of the mark when it was discovered that it was actually a CPR dummy that had been "sitting" in the back seat.

The mannequin had been strapped into the vehicle ahead of the Isle of Man Constabulary's careers day visit to Sulby Primary School on Friday.

Unfortunately on Thursday evening, a passer-by mistook the dummy for a person.

In a statement, the force said it was "a harmless mix-up" and the car had been left "in an area where other emergency services are known to park".

The CPR mannequin is "standing" upright on the left as part of a display in a primary school classroom. There is a table with three chairs covered in police tape, and a helmet on the table.Image source, Isle of Man Constabulary
Image caption,

The CPR mannequin was part of an educational display that was to be taken to a primary school's careers day

A spokeswoman said the patrol car had been "prepared with uniforms, a CPR mannequin, and other resources for the children to explore" the following day.

She added: "The mannequin was securely strapped in, both for safety and to avoid obstructing the driver, but someone passing by has mistaken it for a person."

The school visit was about "giving children a hands-on experience of police work as well as other opportunities".

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