Streaming someone drowning instead of helping

Bredabe · 03-05-2025 11:21AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123413525#Comment_123413525

While there is merit in minding yourself, I see so many young children and adults who are headless of their surroundings which makes them unknowingly open to accidents of all kinds. Its not possible for people who are not brought up with or had traumatic incidents to gain that kind of awareness in a short time period. There is only so much people can do against circumstances they didn't know would happen or have a plan to mitigate.

Some time ago a family member fell into a body of water and was screaming for help, it was a small town so ppl left to call the emergency services and find a lifesaver, in the meantime a pair of men coming from signing on jumped into the water and swam him back to safety, performing basic first aid while the audience jeered at them. I asked the two later on why they did that in a town that thought so little of them, and they answered that it was their training(both being from countries where some kind of military or community service was mandatory)

I feel sure that some of those filming will be shortly diagnosed with PTSD, and some will never know why their MH went downhill shortly after this incident. Likely that some will attempt to sue the local authorities for some kind of distress payment.

That said, we must tackle this lack of connection between people that causes others to not think in emergency situations to do the basics, as my mum used to say, you never know when it will be one of your own, no matter how much you think it will never be one of your own.

mrslancaster · 03-05-2025 11:28AM

What a terrible accident and so awful to think nobody even bothered to throw in a lifebuoy. Do some people not know they are there or what they’re for?

R.I.P to the man who lost his life.

Field east · 03-05-2025 11:30AM

I have been involved in/ witnessed situations where I was exposed to, So:-

(1) my first/only reaction was to be there to see IF I CAN BE OF ANY ASSiSTANCE. It is not an excuse to think that you would be of no use. how does one know that they would be of no use until they ‘survey ‘ the situation first

(2) Two things I find ABSOLUTLY shocking about the Cork drowning

(a) of all the people around there was no strong swimmer/ life saver amongst them and if there was they did not act

(b) Incredible that there was not a life buoy to be seen in the water even though they were within yards of the accident

(3) if I was there apart from throwing in a life buoy or two, what would also come to mind would be the usefulness of a ladder and things that float like spare tyres

(4) when ‘curious ‘ people stop at ,say, traffic accidents they park within yards of the accident and it could be on a bent of a road rather than parking well in off the road and in a safe place well away from the accident.. there was a very serious accident in Limerick a few years ago where a person parked very near the accident to help and was ploughed in to and got killed

kaymin · 03-05-2025 12:17PM

My brother saved the life of a girl that was drowning in the sea off the coast of Clare. He was getting in for a surf at the time and there was no one else there to save her. She never contacted him to thank him afterwards. Some people are very weird.

Raichų · 03-05-2025 12:23PM

Jesus Christ. I feel sick to my stomach.

Princess Calla · 03-05-2025 12:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123413594#Comment_123413594

Well that would be me.

I would see it more beneficial to keep the traffic flowing, especially if it looks like others are doing something.

Outside of driving I'd like to think I'd do something to help even if it's hanging around to give a witness statement.

Whipping out my phone to film something wouldn't even enter my head (unless it was an altercation and footage might be used as evidence, even then it would be fairly unlikely.

Being honest there are certain situations I wouldn't get involved in....if two junkies want to kick the head off each other I'm crossing the street.

eightieschewbaccy · 03-05-2025 01:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123413670#Comment_123413670

I think the life buoy and throwing it to the person while contacting emergency services is honestly the only course that should be followed. I'd consider myself a strong swimmer but equally not sure if I'd be capable of rescuing a person in that scenario, so going in has the strong possibility of me becoming another variable that emergency services need to save. But fully agree on the buoy, those who stood by will have to live with the consequences of their actions.

Photobox · 03-05-2025 01:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123413913#Comment_123413913

I doubt if any of those morons recording it will feel a shred of guilt. Just a shrug of the shoulders, sure it was nothing to do with me.

magicbastarder · 03-05-2025 02:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123413670#Comment_123413670

of all the people around there was no strong swimmer/ life saver amongst them and if there was they did not act

if you were to pick say 20 people at random; what are the chances that one of them would be a life guard, or a swimmer strong enough to jump into a river and rescue someone else, without also endangering themselves?

as per eightieschewbaccy's comment, i wonder if there's any quasi-official guidance on how to handle the situation.

edit: a quick google resulted in lots of links, from fire brigades to swimming clubs, and they're pretty unanimous that you should not jump in to help; with concerns about cold water shock to the person in distress trying to use you as a flotation device etc. as warnings. one example:

https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/health-and-social-care/first-aid/five-things-to-know-about-drowning-in-open-water

eightieschewbaccy · 03-05-2025 02:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123414090#Comment_123414090

https://www.sja.org.uk/get-advice/first-aid-advice/breathing-difficulties/drowning/

This is for the UK but applies anywhere really, first thing is to not put yourself at risk. So there's definitely major problems with the behaviour of the crowd but buoy and emergency services is probably your best move.

expectationlost · 03-05-2025 08:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123411704#Comment_123411704

Except it isnt' true.

There are three lifebuoys on either quay, and only one person threw one in to help the first guy.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/05/02/it-was-like-a-circus-watching-my-son-drown-instead-of-trying-to-help-him-luke-hyde-34-drowned-in-river-lee-cork/

the Examiner versions says

But both got into difficulty. One managed to get out and raise the alarm but his friend sank and was carried downstream.

was there actually a target to throw the lifebuoy to at the stage?

Wildly Boaring · 04-05-2025 01:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123413780#Comment_123413780

There's a well known case in kayaking when a chap rescued an idiot on the boyne, gave him CPR and saved his life.

The guy he saved complained that the hero hurt his ribs. Never once thanked him. Now tells the tale the opposite way, as if he did the rescue.

Raichų · 04-05-2025 01:47PM

no one needs to be putting their own life at risk to save someone else (and when training for lifeguard they drill it into you at every opportunity NEVER EVER put yourself at risk!)

But what I can’t get over is that instead of throwing a Life Ring or dialling 999/112 and seeking help for this guy the phones came out and went to TikTok or Facebook Live streams. How does your brain work like that??

A person is drowning- I better stream this!
if I see someone drowning I’m doing my level best to save them- no for kudos or anything but because I couldn’t sleep at night if I thought I left someone to die in such a horrendous fashion.