DROPPING your mobile phone might seem like a disaster.

After all, for many people, that phone would contain their diary, address book, “to do” lists – and perhaps even their music collection and some priceless photos.

So you can understand why the man who dropped his iPhone at Sandbanks on Sunday might have panicked.

However, there’s an old saying: Worse things happen at sea.

It’s an expression that’s especially relevant when you consider that this hapless man decided he should dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard – a service dedicated to saving lives on the water.

During the few minutes it took for this fellow to explain his predicament, someone else could have been reporting an emergency.

It seems some people either place too much value on their phones – or not enough on the time of the emergency services.