6 December 2010

Wrong man given credit for rescue?

| maxiii
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I am writing to complain about the inaccuracy of a story on the front page of a major Canberra newspaper today. The events described in the story ‘Quick thinking saves woman from torrent’ gives credit to the wrong man for saving a young woman from a car that had slid into a drain on Lady Denman Drive.

The story describes the heroic actions of a Page man and even goes on to include supporting quotes from the mans father on holiday in Bateman’s Bay as a testimonial to his brave actions being typical. It seems incredible that the journalist went to considerable lengths to locate and interview the coastal relative without bothering to check that the events described by the Page man were a true and correct account of what happened.

As a witness to the accident I can confirm it was actually another man that jumped into the water to save the young woman. This man, unjustly described by the newspaper as ‘the other man’, jumped into the water, lifted the girl through the drivers side window of her car, and carried her to safety. I then watched him stand in the pouring rain while he offered support and reasurance to the girl, which he had put onto the passenger seat of his car, whilst he waited for the police and ambulance to arrive. Ironically, this ‘other man’ was congratulated with a pat on the back by the Page man for rescuing the young woman.

I feel disappointed that some people choose to take credit for the actions of others and am frustrated that a major newspaper clearly failed to interview all involved. I also feel deeply saddened for ‘the other man’ who it seems will remain unrewarded and unrecognised for his brave and selfless act.

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TVStar said :

I really don’t think the Canberra Times will make it to the end of 2011.

All they do is folksie Canberra stuff (which they get wrong) and have no national news coverage worth knowing about. How hard is it to rewrite a media release from the London Circut Soviet? [Well, they’re written so badly that it might be hard.] When’s the last time the Canberra Times ‘broke’ a story?

AllClassifieds and AllHomes have killed their classifieds, and The Australian’s Capital Circle covers all those things that Canberrans want to know about (but the Canberra Times does not cover).

Maybe put that in your correction letter.

TVstar I just don’t understand people panning the Canberra Times. Why not support it? Local jobs, local stories. They actually do an amazing job for a small regional outfit. What other regional newspaper covers federal as well as local issues?

I’m an unwilling advocate, but can any commentors here explain what the CT got wrong, or are you all on autopilot?

Chief Ten Beers8:16 pm 06 Dec 10

Can’t remember the last time I read the Pravda times.

I really don’t think the Canberra Times will make it to the end of 2011.

All they do is folksie Canberra stuff (which they get wrong) and have no national news coverage worth knowing about. How hard is it to rewrite a media release from the London Circut Soviet? [Well, they’re written so badly that it might be hard.] When’s the last time the Canberra Times ‘broke’ a story?

AllClassifieds and AllHomes have killed their classifieds, and The Australian’s Capital Circle covers all those things that Canberrans want to know about (but the Canberra Times does not cover).

Maybe put that in your correction letter.

Waiting For Godot5:44 pm 06 Dec 10

News Flash! The Canberra Times gets its facts wrong again. It would be easier to mention the stories which are accurate and truthful, there are so very few of them. Why does anybody believe anything printed in that wretched rag of a thing?

I don’t get it. One man chose to speak to the newspaper (alternatively, a journalist found one of the men). A journalist interviews said man and writes a story, which also credits the “other man”. Who knows, perhaps the journalist did speak to the “other man”, but didn’t want the attention (good on him if that’s the case).

Do you see the irony in complaining to this website? Isn’t one of the raisons d’etre of the RiotACT to be a soapbox for subjective views (and good on it, too, for doing so)?

Maxii – In that case I am sure we all we be interested in reading about it the Canberra Times as a correction or as a letter to the editor. I see no point in banging on about it here.

RAGD – I was my friend from Bungendore who rescued the young woman. I was with him at the time and witnessed the whole thing. He was pretty shaken up afterwards. It was really full on for all involved. tiliqua – my friend would have been happy to give info to the press if he was asked.

Jivrashia said :

Did you know that brave people don’t go around bragging their actions (heroic in anyone’s view, “nothing” in his/hers view)?

Brave people do stuff that’s needed and then move on when it’s done. They normally just HTFU and STFU. Never in the spot light, but always lurking in the background to give a hand where it’s needed.

Sorry but this post just rubbed me up in a really bad way.

My sentiments exactly. The nature of a selfless act is that it’s done for the benefit of someone else, not the person doing it.

Beserk Keyboard Warrior2:40 pm 06 Dec 10

RAGD said :

Interesting story. Maxxi, do you personally know any of the men involved? Just wondering how you are sure the name of the rescuer was wrong?

Because there was a picture accompanying the article.

Did you know that brave people don’t go around bragging their actions (heroic in anyone’s view, “nothing” in his/hers view)?

Brave people do stuff that’s needed and then move on when it’s done. They normally just HTFU and STFU. Never in the spot light, but always lurking in the background to give a hand where it’s needed.

Sorry but this post just rubbed me up in a really bad way.

If you had actually read the article, you would know that Ridley credits ‘the other guy’ with getting the woman out through the window. It sounds to me like he was the only one of the rescuers willing to be identified/interviewed hence his prominence in the article. But then I only believe what I read in reputable papers, like the Daily Tele, anyway…

Interesting story. Maxxi, do you personally know any of the men involved? Just wondering how you are sure the name of the rescuer was wrong?

Its not the first time the CT has made mistakes like that. It seems they’ll take whoever comes forward first for an interview as the “hero”.

ConanOfCooma1:48 pm 06 Dec 10

Perhaps both were from Page? I’m pretty sure there is more than one guy living there.

colourful sydney racing identity1:34 pm 06 Dec 10

I know RA and JB are all powerful and all, but I think this should be sent to the Canberra Times if you are after a correction…

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