Rare outbreak of balls

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/8276505.stm

"So I asked the fire service how we were going to get him out and they
said they'd have to wait for the boat rescue service. But unfortunately
I knew where that was coming from and that would have been 20 minutes.

So I risk-assessed the situation and told the firemen to tie some rope
around my waist and in I went."

Hats off to Mark Timmins, who did a good thing today.

 

Thing is - he will probably get sacked.

 

I'm still trying to figure out why it took a paramedic to come up with
a solution rather than the (supposedly) trained fire & rescue service.

No doubt MrTimmins will be hauled up before the NHS's H&S and sent on
a water awareness course
--
Richard

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I'd think not the negative publicity would be unwanted.

 

I was wondering the same thing. Disciplined, certainly.

 

Because the rescue service has procedures which, in this case, were
'wait for boat service', and they would almost certainly have been
disciplined for breaching such.

The Paramedic however, (probably) doesn't have set rescue procedures
to follow. Interesting how he uses the words 'risk a assessed' several
times - sounds like he's waiting for the bollocking/going-legal that
may follow.

 

I agree - the whole article had a tone of "please don't bollock me"
about it.

Hopefully along with a bollocking he'll get some kind of bravery thing
though.

 

Hopefully common sense will prevail and he won't get a bollocking at
all. Assuming that he didn't put anyone else's life at risk etc etc.

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But, once they agreed with the paramedic surely one of the them should
have gone in as they're the ones trained for such situations.

By not following their procedures and waiting for the boat have the
firemen left themselves open for disciplinary action also?

I'd still prefer rescuers to make judgements/decisions based on their
ability, training and experience rather than having them worry over
breaching some H&S directive.
--
Richard

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Absolutely.
I hope he gets away with a stern ' be careful'.
How relieved must the fellow in the river have been to see someone come
out to get him.
Imagine his thoughts if he had to let go while a bunch of firemen looked
on......

 

Exactly.

 

That's exactly how I read it.

He's done his risk assessment, discussed it with the firemen and
agreed on a safe method of recovering the victim. Nothing to be
disciplined for as far as I can see.

 

Looked like it to me too.

 

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