Letter: Lucky escape

The words "swoops to the rescue" in your headline to the story about the RAF officer rescuing a driver trapped in her submerged car (your report, 8 January), will prompt many of us to reflect that such an apt phrase cannot readily be applied to members of our emergency services whose ability to save the lives of others is increasingly hampered by risk assessments, red tape and an official culture of self-safety first.

The trapped woman was indeed lucky to have a rescuer who didn't stop for a second to worry about his own safety, had the presence of mind to arrange for a 999 call and then had the courage and skill to act quickly and decisively to save her life.

If this lady had to rely on action from fire crew, turning up with their pockets stuffed with health and safety warning memos from "go by the book" minded bosses, and waiting around for an ambulance that won't arrive because the driver is on a tea break, we know this story might easily have had a different ending.

MALCOLM W EWEN

Ferryhills Road

North Queensferry, Fife