Rant Jobsworths strike again!!

[Waldo]

This is the most nonsensical thing I've read in a while

Boat saves drowning girl, then gets confiscated

In hot water: The coastguard crew at Hope Cove in South Devon, who have been told they cannot use their boat any more to rescue people
A coastguard crew who saved a drowning girl had their boat confiscated three hours later – and told they could face disciplinary action.

The volunteers broke health and safety rules by launching the inflatable after seeing the 13-year-old being swept out to sea by a rip current.

The three-strong crew braved heavy surf to help rescue the teenager. But, when they returned, their bosses towed away the boat and locked it in a garage.

The inflatable, which has been in service for 15 years and carried out more than 100 successful rescues, was taken out of service in June amid concerns over its hull.

The crew at Hope Cove in South Devon raised £2,000 to have it repaired and the boat was awaiting a further inspection by health and safety officials when the emergency call came.

Station Officer Ian Pedrick, 49, asked for permission to launch because the girl was just 150 metres out to sea. The nearest lifeboat was 10km (six miles) away.

But the crew lost radio contact with coastguard HQ at Brixham and went ahead anyway. They arrived as the girl was being helped by a diver.
Villagers are now accusing the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of putting red tape above the safety of the public. Recently retired coastguard Dave Clark, 54, said: 'Everyone is very angry.

They feel the crew are being punished for trying to save a life.

'Lives could be lost because the boat has been locked up.'

A spokesman for the MCA said: 'The boat was suspended because of concerns regarding the structural integrity of the hull. We have identified a serious breach of health and safety procedures and they are currently being investigated.'

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Mike]

Ludicrous