The report of a swimmer in distress off Wells Beach late Wednesday afternoon turned out to be unfounded, Wells police said.

Lt. Kevin Chabot said police received a report of a person who entered the ocean but was never seen returning to the beach.

“The reporting party didn’t know the swimmer,” Chabot said in an email.

Chabot said the Wells Fire Department deployed a jet ski and the town’s harbormaster patrolled the beach in his boat, but could not find the individual. The Wells Fire Department also used its ladder truck to gain an aerial view of the beach and water.

“At this time, we haven’t corroborated that someone is missing or that someone is in the water,” Chabot said Wednesday evening.

Authorities have not received any missing person reports. Bystanders notified authorities around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday that a swimmer who appeared to be in distress had disappeared.