999 worker: Please forgive me for that night

ONE Manchester fireman yesterday begged for forgiveness from victims because his crew had not gone to their aid.

The officer, who said morale in the fire service is at rock bottom, described how chiefs had sent his crew away from the scene while paramedics used their base.

‘We were just sitting there, desperate to go,’ he said. ‘I would like to ask for the forgiveness of the victims, their families, and other emergency service workers for not upholding my end on the night.

‘If it ever happens again I will do what I should have done on that night – pick up the first aid bag off the taxpayers’ fire engine and walk to the incident myself. Or hitch a ride with the true heroes of the incident – the ambulance service. Many of us have been left distressed and devastated by what happened.’

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, he added: ‘We just wanted to help. Police from Wales and Yorkshire and ambulances from the East Midlands were at the arena helping the dead and wounded – 400 yards from our base.

‘It was heart-wrenching for those sat there, with news coming back that the general public were carrying dead, dying and injured people on advertising boards.

‘Paramedics were coming back questioning why we weren’t doing anything when they needed us for basics like oxygen cylinders and to fetch and carry.

‘To a man and woman the ambulance service went despite being told it was still an active incident. We knew and understood the risk but were not allowed to go.’