R2OK!

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

I thought Jeremy was being somewhat flippant and even cocky about this article - until that caller came on about that awful tragedy he had witnessed (3 people dead Crying or Very sad

)
It made the the dutch lady who came on afterwards sound a bit silly.
I was suprised that some callers seemed to think it was 'health and safety gone mad' Walking on ice is dangerous and that is all there is to it, for example:-

A few years ago in cambridge a student thought it would be a great idea to impress his mates by walking across the frozen river Cam. The part where he tried to cross is not that wide, however at just over half way the ice gave way, he dissappeared under the ice. The fire station is litterally 5 minutes drive from where it happened, they were there very quickly, they pulled him out but it was too late, he had passed away.

Just don't take the risk, it isn't worth it.

Minx · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:37 am Post subject:

Yes I heard that. It made pretty grim listening and the guy telling the tale was also a bit emotional remembering it.

I also found the item about the homeless woman with six dogs sleeping in a car on Dartmoor rather shocking. I am sure there is more to the story than what we heard, and it sounds like JV will be updating on this one.

Rachel · Guest

I thought Jeremy did ok with the ice story- you could pick just about any everyday activity and find examples of people being killed doing it- tragic though it is when people die having fun, it would be a grim life if we did away with fun for fear of injury or death.

We always like to have someone to blame for an unnecessary death, and falling though ice leaves little room to blame anyone- because it’s a natural phenomenon.

If we go cycling and die as result, we may blame a car driver, the road surface (local authority) or even the lack of cycle-ways. So we have someone to be angry/upset with but falling though ice is no ones fault – it just happens – people make a choice about how safe the ice is and choose to skate on it or not.

When we were little we skated on ice- we used to test it by throwing bricks/larges stones – having said that, some of things we did were really stupid but that is how you learn- it would be a very dangerous world for children if we taught them to accept without question or experimentation, everything grown-ups say.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

It's just another traditional activity that's fun but bears an element of risk and makes headlines when something goes badly wrong and someone dies as a result.

The shock and instant hypothermia to the system of anyone falling into open water, especially in winter through ice, must carry a high likelihood of serious injury or death if assistance and warmth is not quickly available. I was surprised at the portrayal in EastEnders at New Year (don't usually watch it, I was a captive audience!) of three people falling/diving into a frozen lake, and dragging themselves out with little more trauma than overacting - there was certainly no safety message about the possible consequences there.

The sea also freezes - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4160258/Freezing-temperatures-Sea-frozen-as-cold-weather-grips-Britain.html
The photo of the couple on Epping Forest lake is image no 2
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Ron