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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to think that RNLI shouldn't launch.....

178 replies

AJPTaylor · 10/02/2020 08:26

I live in East Sussex. Yesterday our local lifeboat launched in the middle of the worst storm in years for a feckin idiot surfer who chose to throw himself into the sea in search of a thrill.
You have probably seen the footage of the lifeboat being thrown on it's side at launch.
Or should there be a feckin idiot surcharge?

OP posts:

LisBethSalander07 · 10/02/2020 10:23

We watched this with open mouths on the news.

What an absolute idiot.

He should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.

Samcro · 10/02/2020 10:23

yanbu. made me so bloody angry. selfish fucker

EnidBlyton · 10/02/2020 10:27

what about the surfers in Dorset? filmed for the news,
no catastrophies there?
they are being shown to be enjoying themselves and being brave or whatever
this one man tries to emulate countless others and has a mishap

DGRossetti · 10/02/2020 10:28

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penlee_lifeboat_disaster

Heroes.

SeaToSki · 10/02/2020 10:31

Im in the US and there are coastal communities that are put under evacuation orders regularly when hurricanes are forecast to hit them. They always warn any residents that refuse to evacuate that the emergency services will not be available to rescue them until the danger level is below that which is deemed dangerous to the service people.

Could that work in the UK? warnings posted that rescue services wont be scrambling until conditions improve?

I do think its wrong to put rescue services in known, active danger to save someone, idiot or not.

AutumnRose1 · 10/02/2020 10:31

I suppose it's up to the volunteers

I'd love to say no

but if they're okay with it, then a charge.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/02/2020 10:36

I gather there were other reckless idiots people surfing yesterday - I hope they all make a big donation to the RNLI.

Same goes for people who go hiking/climbing in adverse weather conditions or underequipped, to Mountain Rescue.

speakout · 10/02/2020 10:37

OP how would you feel if it was your 20 yo son who was being foolhardy on a surfboard?

Would you want him rescued?

Nanny0gg · 10/02/2020 10:40

Or should there be a feckin idiot surcharge?

Yes. Or a fine. And a caution so it goes on record.

How would that pillock feel today if the boat had gone down or one of the crew had drowned?

midsomermurderess · 10/02/2020 10:40

From the press officer of the Lifeboat station: 'It’s what we do really. Whatever the circumstances where someone ends up in the sea, that is what we’re designed to help with'. Thank God they take a more sensible view than the OP.

Becca19962014 · 10/02/2020 10:40

Years ago there was a charge if you needed rescuing off snowdonia in weather like we have today (and have since Saturday here), everywhere flooded and horrendous wind. However, the idiots didn't care and would pay (I think it was around £100 - it was a very long time ago now) but it did put others off phoning and people died.

I was charged years ago when my then landlord refused to give access to the fire alarm which was a klaxon and we had no way to turn it off (no code, no details of how to work it) and needed to ring the fire brigade - cost me £300 because I was the one who rung! Everyone knew about the fine as the landlord put up a poster, two years after I left it burnt down - because everyone was afraid of the fine to phone until it got "bad enough".

I live by the sea and we've had similar instances of stupidity.

Two of the worst - the storms in 2014 when someone wanted a photo and got swept out to sea (they got rescued and the crew survived but it was a close thing) the second was the child who died swimming in the "river beach" advertised by a campsite less than a mile from the sea. It took a child dying before they would stop advertising the "river beach" which was always, even in summer very dangerous. But the campsite saw it as a draw for stupid tourists.

Nanny0gg · 10/02/2020 10:41

OP how would you feel if it was your 20 yo son who was being foolhardy on a surfboard? Would you want him rescued?

I'd want him to sell everything he possessed (including the damn surfboard) to donate to the RNLI.

megletthesecond · 10/02/2020 10:41

I second an Idiot Surcharge and some kind of volunteer shift on station or the community. The RNLI were right to go out though.

I'm the type who bases our beach tent next to the RNLI hut just to be on the safe side. I don't want me or the dc's adding to their workload.

LuluJakey1 · 10/02/2020 10:41

I do think there is a difference with the RNLI- they are volunteers and do risk their lives in conditions like yesterday.

I think a surcharge is perfectly reasonable.

The surfer was absolutely stupid.

Becca19962014 · 10/02/2020 10:42

Our local crew are 99% working in emergency services. They'd never not launch. I follow their social media and they get abuse for helping idiots.

LuluJakey1 · 10/02/2020 10:44

Mountain rescue the same. We have a friend in Northumberland Mountain Rescue and he has stories of people who take really stupid risks, ignoring all advice given to walkers.

doublebarrellednurse · 10/02/2020 10:48

Every summer they go out in Devon and Cornwall and pick up idiots who go to sea in dingys and lilos who barely have the sense to paddle. Obviously at less risk usually than yesterday. I feel like their should be a donation attached really. Something on a sliding scale maybe. It's a charity, not a service like ambulance.

Growing up in the south west my son has had their kids subscription for years and when he outgrew that's he makes a donation monthly (well we do but in his name).

Becca19962014 · 10/02/2020 10:49

We had a surfer who surfed into a wall as that was where the surf was "best" he broke his neck and never recovered.

The person who was swept into the sea I mentioned earlier donated £1000 to the local RNLI after his picture was all over the news and someone leaked his name. Not so sure he'd have done it if it wasn't for the pressure of the press!

ASureSign · 10/02/2020 10:52

You can't fine or charge people for being idiots. It would make some people hesitant about asking.

Lordfrontpaw · 10/02/2020 10:52

Why are they volunteers? If they didn't volunteer then what would happen?

PhoneLock · 10/02/2020 10:52

I'm pretty sure the modern lifeboats are self-righting, so that they can't actually be capsized. This is missing from all of the reporting I've seen, and I'm sure a live capsizing is rough on the crew, but that they are not in danger in the way that people think

Imagine you were in a boat, a bus or a house that rotated 360 degrees. There is plenty of scope for injury, even when wearing protective gear.

turnandfacethenamechange · 10/02/2020 10:52

The surfer probably thinks he’s a big man now and will be telling his story down the pub by next week

Seriously doubt it. DP and a friend got rescued once and they never heard the end of it.

DGRossetti · 10/02/2020 10:57

Why are they volunteers? If they didn't volunteer then what would happen?

People would drown, and schools would have to revive the story of Grace Darling.

ironicname · 10/02/2020 10:58

Surely this is Darwinism? The world is over populated, if one idiot wishes to chance his luck surfing during a storm - well that's down to him. I know that sounds harsh, but the RLNI is for people in distress, not selfish fooled

KittiesInsane · 10/02/2020 11:16

We have a friend in Northumberland Mountain Rescue and he has stories of people who take really stupid risks, ignoring all advice given to walkers.

Dad used to be in the mountain rescue. As he says, 'People used to take precautions. Now they take mobiles and think that'll do instead.'

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