"Please Don't Let Me Die!"

Last time the Captain checked, firefighters were supposed to be brave, selfless heroes. Well, those days are over. As the Captain reported a short while ago, a crew of firefighters sat back and watched somebody's house burn to the ground while doing nothing. Now that "can't do" spirit has crossed the Atlantic, as evidenced by this crew of British cowards.

A mum yesterday slammed firefighters who watched as her son and his pal drowned.

Emergency teams failed to act because they were not trained in water rescue. Instead they stood on the bank of a freezing lake as Philip Surridge, 42, who was drowning with his friend Paul Litchfield, screamed: "Help me! Please don't let me die!"

A brave member of the public who waded into the water begged for assistance but the firefighters refused because they only had "basic water awareness training".

The inquest into both men's death at Kettering magistrates' court yesterday was also told that the only fireman who was trained had left his dry suit back at the station. The team of four retained firefighters had also left an inflatable hose - which could have reached the men - on their fire engine, parked 400m from the scene.

[...]

Paul, 30, of Raunds, Northants, and Philip, of Corby, Northants, were regular hunting partners and drove to Brightwell Lake near Ringstead on December 21 last year.

They were searching for ducks when Paul's dog Amy disappeared into the icy lake. Paul ran to save her but the ice gave way. Philip went in after him and both got stuck 100ft from the edge.

[...]

Crew boss Kevin Brown said: "It was inappropriate to go in because of temperatures. We only had T-shirts under our fire kits." Fire crews later saved the dog.

[Daily Mirror]