People taking photos of someone seriously injured

[holly873]

I was at the beach today. At one point a coastguard helicopter landed behind the seawall for what was an obvious emergency incident. I later found out on the news that a woman slipped on the rocks and banged her head. Anyway whilst the emergency services were on the scene there must have been around 200 people looking over the seawall gawping and taking photos until the helicopter left. I was disgusted at the lack of respect people were showing someone who was obviously seriously injured. What is wrong with these people? I'm sure they wouldn't like a huge crowd doing this if they or their loved one was injured.

The sad thing is that the police have had to change their protocols because of social media. Rather than waiting and investigations to be certain the know the name of the dead/seriously injured person, they now have to take a risk and talk to next of kin earlier.

The sad thing is that the police have had to change their protocols because of social media. Rather than waiting and investigations to be certain the know the name of the dead/seriously injured person, they now have to take a risk and talk to next of kin earlier.

It's terrible, yeah. It's awful on the flip side too. Many a time, you'll find people taking filmed/photographed situations completely out of context, and there'll be aggressive witch-hunts online that could and will likely end up destroying someone's career and family, even.

I think it's more to do with the fact that people feel the need to document every part of their their lives

Absolutely. See people who take selfies at Auschwitz, etc. Also if it isn’t on social media it didn’t happen.

News organisations often now ask for photos and footage. They will also interview someone who witnessed the event. People like their 15 minutes of fame unfortunately.

A friend of my mum's found out her 14 year old son had been killed via FB last year. She's an anaesthetist and had been in theatre for several hours, meaning the police had been unable to contact her. She sat down for a cup of tea, opened FB for a browse, and came across loads of posts with pictures of her son's mangled bike, because he'd been tagged in them. "RIP Joe Bloggs - so tragic can't believe you're gone" type thing. Just awful

For some reason my sad face is showing as a bike emoji! I did not put that there! confused

Part of my job is attempting to control these fuckers. As soon as I turn up on scene and talking very loudly about the confiscation of all devices that has footage and potential evidence, they all miraculously disappear. They all get warnings about social media then and we carefully monitor it.

That or I have to deal with some moron who nearly kills themselves trying to get the best picture.

Many a time we have a arrived at an incident to hundreds of people around the scene, only one 999 call made.

Also journalists themselves can be utter bastards. They use social media to create a self-correcting story. So they will post any old tripe e.g. at X location now. Air ambulance here, someone killed in X way. Knowing that the public will correct it in minutes with pictures and videos.

Boils my blood!

People like that are humanity at its hateful worst.
I saw a little girl fatally struck by a bus, years ago. People all frantically ran to help. I was a teenager and so relieved that others were helping as I was terrified to approach the scene myself. Why would you want to see such a thing if you didn't have to? Why would you film or photograph it?

Many a time we have a arrived at an incident to hundreds of people around the scene, only one 999 call made.

This worries me. If I see something I generally make a 999 call. My theory is that I’m sure the fire/ambulance would rather have a dozen calls than none.

@LarryGreysonsDoor yep. I have so so many examples, all of which are not little incidents I'm afraid.

And yes, all of us would rather know about something several timed over than not at all. Which is why I get so annoyed when emergency services get slated for not arriving quickly.

Most people filming assume someone else has made that call.

I now never assume that someone else has made the call.

Many a time we have a arrived at an incident to hundreds of people around the scene, only one 999 call made.

Talking to a police officer friend a few weeks ago who said the exact same thing. I said that they must receive loads of calls to one incident when it's public, he said in the case of an accident it's more often than not somebody involved who calls or an off duty nurse/firefighter etc who happens to be there. Most members of the public stand and gawp and film. He told me to always ring, even if they have already had a call, you may be able to give additional information to help.

@captaincallisto FFS that is awful. Do people not think? Evidently not.
I'm surprised that the police didn't go to the hospital, they can't have known where she worked.

I stopped to help a motorbiker who had come off his bike. Someone was taking photos. I told them to go away but they continued. I called a police officer over who told them to get moving. This time they did. I don't think the biker was badly injured, just bruising, but that isn't the point.

My dad collapsed and dies in a public area of a hotel in Spain. My poor mum had to see people trying to get photos of him, even though there were screens round him. They were pulling chairs over to stand on. Disgusting

there is a vidio on youtube of someone filming out of the window of his car going down a road after an accident. It was when the opposite side had been reopened but the vehicles involved were still there. He turns the camera to have a good look at the aftermath and the vehicles, then turns it again to show the knackard looking firemen having a rest on the side of the road.

It is labled something like looks like a bad accident.

I don't need to be told it was bad, my friend died in that accident.

People are sick.

@LarryGreysonsDoor I'm glad to read that (meant in a none patronising way) apologies if it reads that way.

It's a very sad fact of incidents that we have to plan for this now, what I don't want is for families and friends of those involved to see those images/videos. Hence we encourage a cordon much bigger than actually necessary.

I happened to be right behind an accident on the motorway. Car smashed up on every single panel, thankfully walking wounded but only because the safety features of the car kicked in. Some bloke walked at least 100m down the motorway, got his phone out and took a picture. I asked him was it a relatives car? Said no in an incredulous way. Asked why he was taking a photo? Couldn't answer me. Asked him how he would feel if that was his mothers car and random people were photographing it for s£&*s and giggles? Suddenly it dawned on him and I told him to take his son (who was about 8) back to his car and sit in it and wait patiently until the traffic was released as motorways are dangerous places not for pedestrians. He slunk away. Really gets my goat that people live their lives through a camera phone.

People are completely sick.

My toddler was ill in hospital hooked up to a monitor and on drips. Mil wanted to take a photo to show Fil. Sorry but no your not taking photos of an ill child.
I had visions of DD becoming the source of gossip at the social club.

Our town has an online only news agency. Seems to be run by one bloke with a prolific fb feed and a frequently updated website but most of his "news" seems to be from other people who have seen stuff and told him about it/sent him photos.

I have seen several fb threads where people have recognised a car in the fb feed and realised its a loved one and its the first they know about the accident! People have told him several times and he continues.

Fire service have had to start using salvage sheets to screen off from public when cutting RTC victims out of vehicles because of the ubiquitous camera phone and the average persons lack of decency.
There has been cases of relatives seeing loved ones injured, posted on social media before the police have had a chance to notified them.
Way of the world now unfortunately.😕

I don’t understand why people don’t ask themselves would I want myself or a loved one to be filmed in those circumstances?

According to the BBC 259 people have died taking selfies (yrs 2011-2017) & the figure is likely to be higher. I hate the culture of social media.

This thread has got even more harrowing since I last logged on last night. I feel so sorry for those of you who have lost loved ones and had experience of strangers taking photos at the scene. It's so disrespectful. From now on if I see something similar again I will be telling people off.

There was a fatal accident near us recently, someone who lived by where it happened went out to take photos and post them on social media. The police arrested him, he was later released with a caution but I am glad the police acted.