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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/13/t-in-the-park-sos-tweet-a-riddle-wrapped-in-a-mystery-inside-a-tent-bag
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T in the Park SOS tweet: a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a tent bag | T in the Park SOS tweet: a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a tent bag |
(34 minutes later) | |
Early on Monday morning as the T in the Park music festival was winding down a man calling himself Scott Johnston, 23, tweeted: “Hi im somewhere in green 7 someone has packed me into a tent bag for a joke and I can’t get out I don’t have much battery left.” | Early on Monday morning as the T in the Park music festival was winding down a man calling himself Scott Johnston, 23, tweeted: “Hi im somewhere in green 7 someone has packed me into a tent bag for a joke and I can’t get out I don’t have much battery left.” |
@Tinthepark hi im somewhere in green 7 someone has packed me into a tent bag for a joke and I can't get out I don't have much battery left | @Tinthepark hi im somewhere in green 7 someone has packed me into a tent bag for a joke and I can't get out I don't have much battery left |
His post triggered a flurry of attention online and has now been retweeted over 8,000 times. His SOS tweet dominated the #TITP2015 trending hashtag in Edinburgh, while news of T in the Park is currently led by the story of tent-bag man on Google. Then the authorities got involved. | |
Police Scotland took the message seriously and replied with: “Hi Scott please tweet us with more info if you can. We have officers with stewards in the area looking for you now.” | Police Scotland took the message seriously and replied with: “Hi Scott please tweet us with more info if you can. We have officers with stewards in the area looking for you now.” |
The police account sent further tweets urging the trapped man or his friends and family to contact the authorities using the non-emergency number. | The police account sent further tweets urging the trapped man or his friends and family to contact the authorities using the non-emergency number. |
@ScottJohnston8 please can you, a friend or family member contact us on 101. | @ScottJohnston8 please can you, a friend or family member contact us on 101. |
Traffic Scotland then got involved in tweeting the apparently zipped-up man: “Hi Scott, we have contacted the police, if you have any battery left please provide an update. Thanks.” | |
Several journalists also got in touch in an attempt to interview him. They included Jamie Ross, Buzzfeed’s political reporter, who tweeted his exchanged with Scott. | |
OH MY GOD I THINK IT'S REALLY HIM. #mantrappedinabagattinthepark pic.twitter.com/weJzvDEaGE | OH MY GOD I THINK IT'S REALLY HIM. #mantrappedinabagattinthepark pic.twitter.com/weJzvDEaGE |
Then Johnston tweeted: | Then Johnston tweeted: |
It's okay everyone my friends unzipped me earlier never been so happy to see the rain | It's okay everyone my friends unzipped me earlier never been so happy to see the rain |
But was he really ever trapped in a bag? | But was he really ever trapped in a bag? |
The Daily Record later reported that Johnston, from Ayr, admitted the whole thing was a hoax. He said he had sent the tweet “for a laugh” and wasn’t even at the festival when he sent the tweet, having left the site on Sunday morning. | |
“I don’t feel bad about it. I can’t stop laughing,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. | “I don’t feel bad about it. I can’t stop laughing,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. |
He said: “It’s everywhere online ... I just tweeted it for a laugh. I didn’t think it would spiral out of control. | |
“I barely use Twitter. That’s probably the first tweet I’ve sent in ages.” | “I barely use Twitter. That’s probably the first tweet I’ve sent in ages.” |
He continued: “It’s the only thing that made me laugh all weekend. | |
“That was my seventh year going and it was the worst T in the Park I’ve ever been to.” | “That was my seventh year going and it was the worst T in the Park I’ve ever been to.” |
“I actually left earlier on Sunday morning, I wasn’t even there this morning.” | “I actually left earlier on Sunday morning, I wasn’t even there this morning.” |
Do the police think it’s funny? | Do the police think it’s funny? |
Police Scotland said: “We are making enquiries.” | Police Scotland said: “We are making enquiries.” |
When asked whether any action would be taken, a police spokeswoman said: “We need to establish the circumstance.” | When asked whether any action would be taken, a police spokeswoman said: “We need to establish the circumstance.” |
The Daily Record said Police Scotland confirmed Johnston had contacted them to say he was OK. |
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