Emergency alert in WA was stray dinghy

A rescue search off the coast of Western Australia has been suspended after it was discovered that an emergency beacon was activated when a dinghy broke from its mooring.

Police said an EPIRB was activated at 3.50am on Friday near Cape Leveque in the Kimberley region.

It sparked a marine search, while locals from a nearby resort scoured the coastline.

But at about 12.30pm, police said the search had been called off and all people concerned had been accounted for.

Police found an upturned dinghy after it broke from its mooring and it is believed that the EPIRB which was inside was activated.