Coastguard volunteers have been assaulted and verbally abused by a man as they attempted to rescue him from the water in Co Down.
The Newcastle Coastguard said it was a “shocking and sad incident” as their volunteers were attacked on the beach in Newcastle on Monday at around 3.20pm.
In a post on Facebook, the coastguard said they were called to Central Promenade “where a young man had entered the water”, but “were met with behaviour that quiet frankly abhorred us”.
“The young man we were sent to assist was highly aggressive, attempting to assault the coastguards and police officers, refusing our appeals to calm down and verbally abusing everyone who came near him,” the statement said.
“One of our team members suffered kicks to the leg and to the head.
“A second team member took a knee to the stomach.
“As if that wasn’t bad enough, the casualty then began spitting at the coastguards and police officers.
“He was arrested by the police and taken away in handcuffs.”
The post added: “Our emergency service colleagues in the PSNI, Ambulance Service and Fire and Rescue Service report this type of behaviour is not unusual for them, but for those of us in the voluntary sector it came as a shock.
“We are volunteers who put in many long hours training and respond in all weathers and at all times of the day and night in the hope that we can do some good and keep the public safe.
Shocking and sad incident THERE are times as a Coastguard Rescue Officer when events bring you up short. It can be a...
Posted by Newcastle Coastguard on Tuesday 31 December 2024
“All of us love what we do and will not be put off by what is an isolated incident, but it is a sad day when people rushing to provide emergency assistance are assaulted and verbally abused by the person in need of help.”
