Rib rescue on Thames

[limeydal]

Apologies if its been posted before,but just came across this one and worth a second look anyway
I know the Thames is supposed to be cleaner now ,but really!!!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LjfS1_...eature=related

cheers Dal

[codprawn]

Never seen this before!!!

Is that RIB in gear or is it waterjet???

[limeydal]

I was wondering that , as the guy floated towards the stern
Dal

[RAD]

Interesting. Couldnt have volumn but looked like one was so close, plus they had it in gear, it was going round in a tight circle.

[codprawn]

Surely not these people are highly trained professionals............

[Tideway]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Surely not these people are highly trained professionals............

Who had just dived in front of a tug & tow that was heading down with the ebb tide and couldn't stop. So fair play to them for getting the (drunk) chaps out of the water. It went quite well until they left it in gear, but they were only two up and the guy in the front needed the helms help. Bloke in the water really looks like he realised props were a whirling and luckily got out of the way.

I suspect the adrenalin was pumping and that this error was picked up in the debrief afterwards?!!

Easy to criticise with hindsight, but I think that I would have been reluctant to dive in next to the tug and lighters as quick as these guys, and seconds really do matter in a cold, tidal river like the Thames.

t

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by limeydal

I know the Thames is supposed to be cleaner now ,but really!!!!

cheers Dal

Thought that was natural !!!!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Tideway

Who had just dived in front of a tug & tow that was heading down with the ebb tide and couldn't stop. So fair play to them for getting the (drunk) chaps out of the water. It went quite well until they left it in gear, but they were only two up and the guy in the front needed the helms help. Bloke in the water really looks like he realised props were a whirling and luckily got out of the way.

I suspect the adrenalin was pumping and that this error was picked up in the debrief afterwards?!!

Easy to criticise with hindsight, but I think that I would have been reluctant to dive in next to the tug and lighters as quick as these guys, and seconds really do matter in a cold, tidal river like the Thames.

t

I thgought the golden rule was to either kill the engine(kill cord) or to at least put it into neutral ASAP - it should be 2nd nature - even I do it!!!

Another thing that suprised me was that the helicopter didn't seem to have broadcast a warning to the tug/barge until the last minute. Surely they could have spotted the barge sooner from altitude? I suspect they were too focused on what was going on below them to look at the bigger picture.. I know the tug couldn't have done much but it could possibly have slowed a little???