Fatally stupid

In the most recent example of jobsworth lunacy among our public servants, firemen were not allowed to go into a three-foot deep boating lake to rescue a man floating face down.

Considering the length of time he had been in the pool and the temperature of the water, there was a chance of his surviving had he been pulled sooner from the lake.

Tony Nichols, watch manager at Gosport fire station, said: “The officers were trained to go into ankle-deep water so we had to wait for officers who can go in chest-high.”

I wonder if there is a special examination ambitious officers must sit to ensure they have the necessary level of stupidity to hold a promoted post in the fire service.

(Dr) John Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews