Officers from Stapleford Fire Station said they were "lost for words" after life-saving equipment was stolen from one of their sites. The station shared the disappointing news on their Facebook page after one of their firefighters attended Cookies Pond in Ilkeston Road, Bramcote.
Andy Bennett attended the site to make a routine check of the equipment and found that the key box and throw line has been stolen and nowhere to be seen. In a statement, the fire station said it is "so disappointed at this mindless act of vandalism and theft." Part of the Facebook post read: "Every year 400 people accidentally drown and 200 take their own lives in our waterways. This equipment is there to save lives, and I am actually lost of words. We are preparing to mount our most comprehensive water safety campaign across the town, and this happens. It’s gut-wrenching."
Watch manager Gary Fordham, who leads the team at Stapleford, said: “This an act of pure mindless vandalism and we are urging anyone with information about this to contact the police via 101 or anonymously via crimestoppers 0800 555 111. We’ll arrange for the equipment to be replaced via the Broxtowe Water Safety Partnership and will continue to make regular checks at the site”
