London - A group of teenagers had to be rescued from caves after getting lost while playing the Pokemon Go smartphone game – and another youngster was hit by a motorcyclist.
The incidents came as police warned children against putting themselves at risk through playing the game, which allows people to capture virtual cartoon monsters such as Pikachu and Jigglypuff using their smartphone cameras.
Similar warnings are being issued around the world. In California, two young men fell over a cliff during a monster hunt and had to be rescued by fire crews.
Elsewhere in the US state, a player was stabbed after the trail lead him to a park.
Players of the Nintendo game – which has been downloaded by tens of millions of people – are guided to the characters via the GPS satellite system built in to smartphones.
It has resulted in groups of children, teenagers and young adults wandering the streets at all times of the day and night with their smartphones held out in front of them.
Crowds have been visiting unlikely locations, including a cemetery, a sex shop and the headquarters of MI5.
The four teenagers in Wiltshire headed into the underground network of tunnels in Boxsfields caves, in Hawthorn, Wiltshire, to play the game on Thursday afternoon. But they became lost and disorientated and wandered around for more than an hour before they could get a mobile signal and call 999. Three fire crews and two rope units enlisted the help of a key holder – who had access to a locked part of the cave – to find them.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service warned people to stay out of the tunnels unless they have a proper map and guide. A spokesperson said: “The crews were able to assist [a] key holder with leading four teenagers to safety. They had apparently been in the caves looking for Pokemon.
“The tunnels are open to the public, but some of the areas are locked off because they are close to areas used by the Ministry of Defence.”
Pokemon Go was officially released in the UK on Thursday – a week after the US and Australia.
Later that day, a boy in his mid-teens was hit by a motorcycle when playing the game at the same time as crossing a road in Bexleyheath, south-east London. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital by paramedics.
Earlier this week, police in Richmond, south-west London, used an official Twitter account to offer a safety guide, complete with references to Pokemon characters.
It said: “Always be aware of your surroundings. That Pikachu will not expect you to run in the road, and Squirtle won’t want you to swim in the Thames.
“Don’t be a Drowzee and walk around with your head in a daze. Always be aware of people who may be watching you to steal your phone?…?[and] make sure your parents (if you’re under 16) know where you are going.”
The NSPCC has raised concerns that paedophiles might use the GPS technology in the app to track youngsters. There are also suggestions that big business will use the game to target and exploit players.
Players collect monsters by visiting “PokeStops” or “PokeGyms”.
Retailers, which could include McDonald’s, will pay Nintendo to sponsor these sites to attract thousands of customers.
The phenomenal appeal of the game and its financial potential has sent shares in Nintendo soaring by 70 percent, boosting its market value by almost £7-billion to £19.6-billion.
Daily Mail