Coastguard crew attack in ‘unpleasant’ incident

Coastguard crew attack in ‘unpleasant’ incident

8 January 2025

NEWCASTLE Coastguard volunteers were caught up in what has been described as an “unpleasant incident” when they went to the assistance of a man who was in the water.

The volunteers say they have been left “shocked” after being assaulted by a man they were helping after he ended up in the water at Central Promenade on Monday afternoon of last week.

Details of the incident – when two volunteers were hit by a young man – were posted on social media.

The Coastguard said the person they were asked to assist “was highly aggressive,” attempted to assault volunteers and police officers and refused their appeals to calm down.

He was also verbally abusive.

One of the volunteers was kicked on the leg and head while a second was kneed in the stomach.

“The event brought us up short in a particularly unpleasant way which, fortunately, we rarely experience,” said an online post.

The team was tasked to the incident on the beach off Central Promenade just after 3.20pm where a young man had entered the water. 

The Coastguard volunteers were joined by their colleagues from Kilkeel, along with Newcastle RNLI and local police who were met with “behaviour that quite frankly abhorred us”, the post continued.

“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. 

“One of our team members suffered kicks to the leg and to the head. A second 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 Coastguard said its 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 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,” the online post continued.

“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.”

Mournes councillor Jill Truesdale said attacks on emergency services personnel will not be tolerated and described last week’s incident as “shocking”.

As a member of the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership she said she was aware of the rise in attacks on police officers carrying out their jobs.

“To hear of an assault on the Coastguard is as deplorable,” she continued.

“This is the third incident in Newcastle within a matter of weeks where police have been assaulted while attempting to keep the public safe.

“From NI Policing Board data it is clear the level of assaults against police officers in Northern Ireland is significantly higher proportionately when compared to other services across the UK.”

Cllr Truesdale said data showed there was a disproportionate number of injured officers in the local council area due to so-called ‘ramming’ incidents. Fifty eight officers were injured last year.

“Not only is the cost to repair the vehicles substantial, but the impact on multiple officers is significant,” she remarked.

“It can come as a shock for many who work across the emergency services to be met with aggression. Many 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 they can do some good and keep the public safe.”

She added: “Every single serving member of all these organisations are highly trained individuals. One assault can remove all that skill for sometimes months not to mention the resultant trauma that can stay for a life time and there is no easy solution to this issue. 

“This will take time and a well-rounded multi-disciplinary approach, working collaboratively with politicians to support the upcoming legislation and everyone calling out these utterly abhorrent acts of aggression and violence.”