Coastguard chiefs have slammed vandals who maliciously damaged Stonehaven lifesaving equipment.
On a weekend which saw tragedy in nearby Aberdeen with the death of a mother and son in the water off the town’s beach and a major rescue operation involving so-called tombstoners on the Angus coast at Arbroath, the Stoney vandals opened throwline cabinets and scattered the contents across the beach.
Senior officers said their actions rendered the equipment unfit for use and have condemned the vandals as “extremely irresponsible”, saying lives could have been put at risk as a result.
Aberdeenshire Council provide throwlines and life-rings at points along the coast, including around Stonehaven bay and harbour.
The equipment was left in a condition that would not have allowed to be effectively operated in an emergency.
Coastguard rescue officer Daniel Carnegie said: “This type of behaviour is extremely irresponsible and could have had serious consequences, so we would ask that if members of the public do notice any damage to these devices anywhere along our beach that they report it to ourselves or the council immediately.”
“A member of the public recovered the rescue equipment from the beach and took it to our station in Cowie. We have checked and reinstated the equipment back in its storage cabinet”.
HM Coastguard coastal operations area commander Ross Greenhill said the agency takes a “very dim view” of the vandalism of lifesaving equipment anywhere and he urged people to report equipment they see damaged.
“As we have seen with the tragic events yesterday at Aberdeen beach where two members of the same family sadly lost their life in the sea, members of the public need to know that when the equipment is required that it ready to be used.
“When used correctly, it can help stop people put their own lives in danger, stabilising a situation until the rescue services can get there.
“Therefore if this equipment is damaged maliciously, the vandals can be contributing towards someone losing their life where it would otherwise be saved.”
He added: “If anyone should see any equipment damaged, it should be reported to the local authorities, so it can be replaced”.
“If you see anybody in trouble along the shoreline, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
