Firefighter warned he could be sacked for saving lives

A firefighter has been warned he faces the sack if he uses his medical training to save injured people while carrying out fire calls.

Joe McMahon, a former paramedic who is now a firefighter based in Wimbledon, helped ambulance workers who were struggling to treat five casualties.

But instead of being praised, his employers told him he could be fired for misconduct if he used his medical training again.



After a disciplinary hearing he was told he might be sacked and sent a letter which warned: "When you are working as a London firefighter you are ordered not to give any medical treatment except first aid."

The 44-year-old said: "I've been told if I try to save a dying person I will be sacked. It seems to be my bosses' opinion that it is better to let someone die than p*** off their insurance brokers."

Undeterred by the warnings Mr McMahon now fears he will be sacked after he helped a four-year-old girl who had been hit by a car.

Photo from here.