Stranded couple refuse to be rescued in driftwood row

Two people stranded by an incoming tide refused to be rescued unless RNLI staff took with them a shopping trolley full of driftwood.

The man and woman were collecting driftwood at the mouth of the River Tees in north-east England when they were cut off by the tide. On arriving at the scene the Hartlepool inshore lifeboat found the woman suffering from hypothermia and in need of medical assistance. The pair however refused to be rescued unless the trolley full of driftwood was also taken. Despite difficulties in transportation the life-boat crew had to capitulate to the demands of the pair because of the condition of the woman. The Humber coastguard told the BBC that the 65-year-old man was more concerned with his trolley full of driftwood than for the safety of the woman. A spokesman for the Humber Coastguard told the BBC: "It is very rare that we are met with a situation where members of the public refuse to be rescued, but it does put us in a difficult position when those people are clearly in need of medical attention. “Although he did get his way, as the lifeboat were forced to transport the wood in order that the woman's condition not worsen, the wood was later disposed of by the police." The man and woman drove away after the incident refusing medical assistance.