Originally Posted by Myself

Water rescues are a huge grey area with no one service willing to take the lead. The main reason for this is training which = money!
this is a situation that happened at my station. There was an investigation and talk of discipline over this! (see related links on right) Our orders state we are not allowed over our boots in water! They are now however ticking boxes by giving us 'water awareness' courses and puting throw lines and inflatable hose kits on each pump but to be honest we're just playing at it. I'm aware that other areas are different but it just goes to show that because of a pound note people you'd expect to be the ones to help may not be able to but as my mate showed the humanatairian side will (or should) over ride the 'orginasational robot' that some places want you to be!
Tam has been awarded the RHS medal and is shortlisted for the Pride of Britain bravery award on GMTV next week. He maintains he was just doing his job and we all agree we would do the same.....it's just that we're not allowed to and now we've been given the training we have the Brigade can wash their hands of us and our families if anything were to go **** up.
Each incident should be treated differently though and I'd hate to comment on this one not knowing the facts. The moral pressure these guys must have been under is horrible I can assure you.