warpedskydiver 0 #1 November 25, 2007 Soldiers who suffered appalling injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan were verbally abused as they swam in a public swimming pool. During a weekly rehabilitation class at a council leisure centre, 15 servicemen – including several who have lost limbs or suffered severe burns – were heckled and jeered by members of the public. One woman was so incensed that the troops were using the pool at Leatherhead Leisure Centre in Surrey that she told them they did not deserve to be there. She became increasingly abusive, screaming that it was wrong for staff to rope off a lane exclusively for the injured personnel from the nearby Headley Court rehabilitation centre. The swimmer, thought to be in her 30s, is understood to have said: "I pay to come here and swim – you lot don't." The abuse was witnessed by 79-year-old Korean War veteran Charles Murrin, who said yesterday: "I could not believe what she was saying. "The lane was roped off, which they do every week. It wasn't as if the pool was completely closed. Her group had the rest of the pool to swim in. "She said the men do not deserve to be in there and that she pays money to come in the pool and they don't." The soldiers, who use the pool as part of a water therapy course, were quickly ordered out by their instructor to avoid further embarrassment. Mr Murrin, who served in the Royal Navy, added: "I spoke to the instructor in the changing room afterwards and he was livid. "I know what these people are going through, because I talk to them and I have got quite friendly with them." Linda Sinclair, of Leatherhead, also witnessed the abuse. She said:"It was a few people that were complaining and it made me cross. I really felt for those soldiers." The incident, which took place on November 13, came as a national appeal was launched to raise £5million to build a new rehabilitation pool and gym at Headley Court. The centre treats 180 injured servicemen who have to make a half-hour trip to Leatherhead to use the pool. Last night, Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, a former infantry commander, told of his dismay at the incident. He said: "It may well be that these people had paid for the use of the pool, but our soldiers have paid so much more for their country." A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are disappointed that a small number of people objected to the closure of swimming lanes so that patients of Headley Court could use them." A spokesman for Mole Valley District Council, which owns the leisure centre, said: "There appears to have been a rare incident where two members of the public queried the provision of lanes of the swimming pool for Headley Court. "While we wouldn't condone what happened, staff did their best to accommodate all concerned and acted professionally in dealing with the situation." www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=495910&in_page_id=1770 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lefty 0 #2 November 25, 2007 No way is anyone that crass.Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful. -Calvin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 November 25, 2007 DUDE.. its in the UK...shouldnt John Rich be posting this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bozo 0 #4 November 25, 2007 QuoteDUDE.. its in the UK...shouldnt John Rich be posting this I think another veteran could come up with something a little more significant. bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,623 #5 November 25, 2007 "There appears to have been a rare incident where two members of the public..." Yes, that sounds like the Daily Mail's style. Two morons' behavior becomes a national incident.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akarunway 1 #6 November 25, 2007 Kinda the the NAMGRUNTS being spit on when they returned. Sad.I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #7 November 25, 2007 Sadly, some people don't even see the harm in one person doing something so hateful, and despicable. I do not care who or how many people were involved in doing such a thing, it was wrong, cruel, unpatriotic, biased, and inhumane. That sort of action should have been sorted out on the spot, until medical help arrived. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #8 November 25, 2007 Quote"There appears to have been a rare incident where two members of the public..." Yes, that sounds like the Daily Mail's style. Two morons' behavior becomes a national incident. It's not so different here in the US either. Personally, I am saddened to read that anyone would be so callous to anyone recovering from a serious injury, regardless of their disposition.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flacid_Monk 0 #9 November 25, 2007 there's complete arse-wipes in any country, these people just happen to be arse-wipes in our country.... they need a good slap in the face I'm completely against the war in Iraq, but i think the soldiers over there should be treated with the upmost respect when they come home... it's not their fault they are over there, they are trying to do their best in a shit situation.... the retards who abuse these people are not representative of the general population in the Uk (thankfully) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mccallj 0 #10 November 26, 2007 If I ever come across someone like that I will lay them out in a heartbeat. Someone called one of my friends in Air Force ROTC a baby killer on campus about a year ago. Fortunately in AU those people are in the extreme minority.“Last week I helped my friend stay put. It's a lot easier than helping someone move. I just went over to his house and made sure that he did not start to load his shit into a truck.” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gremlin 0 #11 November 26, 2007 If these 2 people wish to complain then let them do so. In writing. With their names and addresses included. They are unlikely to have the bottle to do so and unlikely to be able to take the response when those of us who do put our lives on the line for them reply.I'm drunk, you're drunk, lets go back to mine.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #12 November 26, 2007 QuoteQuote"There appears to have been a rare incident where two members of the public..." Yes, that sounds like the Daily Mail's style. Two morons' behavior becomes a national incident. It's not so different here in the US either. Personally, I am saddened to read that anyone would be so callous to anyone recovering from a serious injury, regardless of their disposition. Really? Have you experienced this kind of abuse as well Max?When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #13 November 26, 2007 Scumbags They want to make a forces rehab centre not so far away from where this happened and the locals protested. Sick. When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
