News of The World - September 25 2005
Rescue Unit under Fire - By Craig Jackson
Man drowned as emergency team watched.
A bungled river rescue in which a man drowned has prompted an urgent review of a pioneering water rescue scheme.
Strathclyde Fire Brigade has introduced a new programme of rescue training using jet skis and high-speed boats.
But crisis talks will take place on Thursday after disgusted cops accused the fire fighters of incompetence over the botched rescue of a 22-year-old from the River Clyde.
A fire rescue team from Glasgow's Polmadie station was called out to help the stricken man on September 15. But they couldn't find a suitable place to launch their rescue boat. And because none of them had been trained in rescue swimming, they didn't dive in to save him.
The distressed man then drowned. Police Divers later pulled his body from the water.
Speedy A Strathclyde Police source stormed: "What's the point of having a rescue service if they're not able to rescue people from the water?".
The fire brigades water rescue unit was officially launched on Friday.
Two £7,500 jet skis were sent to Knightswood station and plans are afoot to introduce the speedy wave skimmers to five more stations.
But a fire source said rank and file firemen are dubious about plans to create a water rescue team.
He added, "Polmadie station hasn't been trained in rescue swimming yet. "Someone screwed up in not getting the Polmadie team trained up".