Reports of child missing in Sunshine Coast river declared a false alarm

The search for a child thought to have disappeared at a Sunshine Coast waterway on Friday remains suspended, with police declaring the incident a false alarm.

Paramedics were called to The Esplanade at Maroochydore about 5pm on New Year's Day after reports that a child was missing, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue helicopter was called in to search the Maroochy River on Friday evening.

Footage from the scene at the Maroochy River showed police, life savers and the Westpac Life Saver Rescue helicopter involved in search efforts on Friday.

Nine News reported that a child was last seen swimming in the area.

By Saturday morning, a police spokeswoman said police were yet to receive a report of a missing child and had suspended the search until further information came to light.

On Sunday morning, a police spokesman said there were still no reports of a missing child in the area, the search remained on hold and the incident was being treated as a false alarm.

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