Idiots on harbour walls in this storm

[RishiRich]

I've just seen this photo on BBC News of a wave twice the height of a harbour wall, with at least 10 people standing on the wall itself. Is a thrill or a good pic for Instagram really worth risking your life and those of the lifeboat service? Where do all these idiots come from?!

This man's dog could easily have gone in, followed by his muppet of an owner. I saw the coastguard got called out to tell these idiots in lycra to get out of the sea!

I agree with @Lockheart about the practicalities of picking and choosing who to try to rescue, as tempting as it is to leave them to the consequences of their own idiocy. I don't think the potholing situation is comparable: potholers rescue other potholers so they're all as mad as eachother but do at least take collective responsibility and help when one of their number has a bad day.

well if they fall in, I hope the only ones that attempt to rescue them are the other twats standing there watching.

That’s a great picture coastguards tied to a rope and stupid swimmers

This is a funny one of the same coastguard-swimmer scene. The swimmer looks very surprised that there might be a tiny problem.

Apologies for not replying @RishiRich internet was down.

The photo was taken in Porthcawl and the people are the best part of 1/4 km from the lighthouse where the big peak is. The waves you are referring to are interference between the backwash from the sea wall and the waves which have already broken over the reef. This throws up spectacular spray which is then whipped about the wind.

The waves that are hitting the wall are pretty small but when they interfere with the backwash they wedge up, spectacular but pretty harmless. Assuming they are locals the people will have seen this many many times before, they know where to be, and are perfectly safe. They are also standing right next to the RNLI station, literally 10m away. The RNLI wouldn’t even have to launch, they could just open the door!

The bloke with the dog on the other hand is a complete idiot. I’ve personally pulled people out of the sea just down the coast from there. Fortunately for him the tide is relatively low at the time the picture was taken so the waves have already spent most of their energy. The real danger on shelving gravel beaches is when the water mixes with the gravel to form a kind of stony slush which can be several meters deep. It’s a bit like sinking sand but with stones and gravel, very unpleasant.

I’ve spent my life and career by, on, and in the sea, and I get really frustrated with the name calling and vitriol as much as I do the ignorance and foolhardery.

Take care out there.

I saw someone on my local FB mums group, she went to the beach, the sea waves were touching her feet, she said it was perfect, worth the video.
The sea looked very angry, anytime the wave could take her in..stupid women.

@Oblomov22

why mention the rescuers? of course they will go out because they are servicemen.

Those group there are just joe public, teenagers, no?

Lifeboat crews aren't servicemen.

They are volunteers.

@JolkienRolkienRolkienTolkien

And the BBC have reporters out in hard hats or driving along coastal roads for live updates. Ridiculous.

Like war reporters? Journalism is a job and sometimes requires people to take risks. Not sure any of the people in the photos were there for work.

@Porcupineintherough

the punishment for being a fucking idiot is not drowning

The natural consequence of being a fucking idiot around water is quite often drowning actually. You don't have the right to be saved from your own stupidity.

We can cancel large parts of the NHS and social services provision then. Because many, many of the things that we provide as a society are to deal with or mitigate the results of people's stupidity.

The argument you make also supports raising tax to 60% on all Brexit voters. In favour of that?

@Porcupineintherough

the punishment for being a fucking idiot is not drowning

The natural consequence of being a fucking idiot around water is quite often drowning actually. You don't have the right to be saved from your own stupidity.

It's called natural selection. Unfortunately our society saves a lot of people that mother nature would have killed off ages ago.