Okay, so it was maybe a bit callous, but…
The postman filmed refusing to help a pensioner after she slipped in the snow has been suspended by the Royal Mail amid an ongoing investigation.
The employee, 51, told 72-year-old Patricia Stewart “I can’t help, I’m too knackered” before advising her to wear slippers as he left her lying on the ground.
The incident, which took place in Bainford, Falkirk, on February’s coldest day, was captured on a neighbour’s doorbell camera and shared online.
Mrs Stewart’s family fear she could have died in the freezing conditions, with the pensioner – who walks with a Zimmer frame – suffering from bone disease osteoporosis.
A couple of points here. Do I think he was wrong to simply walk away? Yes, I do. If he couldn’t help, he could have called someone who could.
However, this is not a justification for his employer to suspend him. Indeed, there is nothing that his employers should be doing to get involved as lifting people up is not a part of his work and if he had tried and made matters worse, what then? In our increasingly litigious society, either he or his employers could have been facing legal action.
So, yes, I believe there is a moral argument here regarding his behaviour, but not one his employer should be getting into.
The postman, standing in for her regular postman, could now face the sack if he’s found guilty of gross misconduct, reports the Daily Mail.
I’d love to see the contract of employment clause that covers this. Although I suppose they could go for bringing the Royal Mail into disrepute as he was in uniform – but no one appears to be criticising the Royal Mail, merely this individual. Bear in mind that lifting someone up isn’t always an easy task and if you do it wrong, you could end up injuring yourself as well as exacerbating any injuries the victim might already be suffering.
Niece Sheryl Harkins said: “What this gentleman did is disgusting. He deserves everything he is going to get.
“He shouldn’t be working with the public.”
What a nasty vindictive woman. Yes, he should have summoned help and it was callous of him not to do so, I agree. But wanting to deprive someone of their livelihood is just plain nasty. Nor does it mean that he shouldn’t work with the public, frankly. Bear in mind here, we only have one side of the story. Is he physically fit enough to be lifting people up?
Either way, no one comes out of this smelling of roses.
Mixed feelings about this, but I believe he had a duty of care to provide help which he refused to do. Imagine how this would be going if woman was black
Suspended on full pay no doubt as RM still behaves like public sector
Yes, lifting a fallen person can be difficult and injurious
Are posties allowed to carry a personal mobile while on their rounds?
Or should he have risked a burglary charge entering the pensioners’ house looking for a phone?
We are in a world where perfectly well brought up adults will, if on their own, ignore a lost child for fear of fatal fake accusations.
Actions have consequences. Still, asking at the next house for the householder to call 999 would have been both safe and honourable. Not doing so, needs an answer.
Why do you go out in freezing conditions and slippery ground when you need a zimmer frame to move?!? Walking away was wrong but the pensioner going outside doesn’t sound very smart.
Why didn’t the living being behind the camera offer to help or phone an ambulance or was it captured on ‘cctv’ and sold to the newspaper?
The latter.
It was a door camera. Looked at later.
Given policemen (and I think firemen) are forbidden by their management to attempt to assist people in far more potentially fatal situations if the correct training/equipment are not present, I have to say the chap in this case is being unfairly put upon.
That being said he’s an obvious c&nt to behave like that, and any policeman who allows someone to drown rather than attempt to rescue them deserves all the contempt society can muster, regardless of ‘the rules’.
What would you have done?
Walked away like postman did?
Rung neighbours door bells and asked for help with 999 last resort?
Postman had a duty of care, he dismissed that. He should now be dismissed and if woman dies charged with manslaughter