The disappearing patient

Dispatched to a shooting in the suburbs late in the afternoon. A dual car response with a MICA unit backing us. We were told to exercise due caution and not approach the scene until it was declared safe by the police. Fair call - I am no hero and I am more than happy to wait til things have settled down a bit - specially if there are high velocity weapons involved. The police gave us a location in the next street where thay wanted us to wait. Our patient had apprently been shot at home and the caller was stating the whereabouts of the offender was unknown. We waited and listened intently to the radio, knowing full well lots of other ambulance crews would be doing the same - everyone listens to events like this when they happen - and it can be very compelling listening.

Shortly after we arrived at our staging area, we got an update through saying that police had entered the scene and someone had indeed been shot. Then a minute later another update stating the patient was now no-longer breathing. However the area was still not secure and we were instructed to wait where we were. Oooh, we thought, this was for real. We were discussing that with the delay in accessing the patient and a gunshot wound that stops you breathing, the victim was probably "very irreversibly unwell".

The next few minutes seemed to take for ever as we waited for news. Finally the dispatcher came up on the radio and said we could cancel(!). The police had just advised that there was no patient. What the...?! I'm still at a loss as to how a job goes from confirmed gunshot wounds and not breathing to 'move along thanks, nothing to see here'. Abducted by aliens? Witness protection? You tell me.