Which bit?

(berk, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:35, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

I was referring to the drowning man originally
Although actually I think that would go for any of the things you've listed. Presumably the police had some good reason for not letting anyone wade in to help?
(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:37, Reply)

Yeah, it was a darkie in the water
and the police don't like their sort
(Bazongaloid, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:39, Reply)

Dangerous current, apparently
I saw it from the beginning, and to be fair the guy did run in to the water to try and get away from the police who were chasing him, and then ducked out from underneath every time they threw him a life ring or rope. But it couldn't have been that fucking difficult for one of them to get kitted up and go in after him, he was in the water for a good 20 minutes before he finally went under and didn't come back up.
(berk, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:41, Reply)

Hold on
So it wasn't reports of "Someone in the water" it was a man evading the police who then drowned rather than get caught?

Why on earth should the police risk their life jumping in after such a stupid prick?
(Bazongaloid, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:43, Reply)

I have to agree with you here

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:45, Reply)

Not to agree that it's quite that clear-cut
But if he's clearly having trouble and refusing all normal means of help then it does make the decision to go in after him a bit more difficult.

Not that this would have made it any less distressing to watch, I realise.
(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:47, Reply)

Yup

( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:51, Reply)

they also have a duty to protect other people
from trying to wade in and save someone.

they'd be right to do it if it were an innocent caught in a flood or something
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:46, Reply)

Yeah, I know
there were easily 15+ policemen there though and double that in bystanders. It became obvious that he wasn't going to grab the rope and then...pretty much everyone stood round and watched the poor bastard drown. It just seemed like collectively we should have tried a bit harder.
(berk, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:49, Reply)

it's pretty horrendous
but if he wouldn't help himself then there's not a lot you can do
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 28 Oct 2010, 13:49, Reply)