What was supposed to be an innocent stunt went horribly wrong as police officers were dispatched from the Gold Coast force after dozens of phone calls had alerted them to the effect that a man dressed in combat fatigues was aiming a rifle at passing vehicles.

Believing a maniac was on the loose, the police showed in all its possible forms; the highway patrol, general duties cars, the district duty officer, CIB units and even the dog squad all rushed to a skate park in Nerang.

What authorities discovered was far from a “lone gunman gone mad” type of situation. Police were surprised but relieved to find an innocent training day which had involved a film being taped and being authored by students and staff of the Australian Stunt Academy.

During the stunt, students dressed in camouflage gear and holding plastic firearms had been climbing the elevated section of a motorway overseeing the park.

The students were then required to fall into a safety net 5 metres lower after pretending to have been hit by gunshots.

Police immediately took down the operation and began questioning students and members of the Australian Stunt Academy staff.

Colin Handley, president of the Australian Stunt Academy said the stunt had been a huge misunderstanding, adding that the public had had the wrong idea.