I THANK you unnamed (if you have an opinion be brave enough to be named: your exaggerations were more dramatic than the quake itself!), Paul Brownley and John Friskney, for your replies to my letter concerning the 999 and the non-emergency calls of which I made on the early morning in question.
Firstly, I did not wake my wife (I do not have one), I questioned my partner, who was awake and very ill downstairs.
I was not shocked by any response because you have all proved my point that the 999 and the non-emergency services do not work to
protect folk under such circumstances.
I was very insulted at been called an idiot.
How many other folk rang 999 or the non-emergency lines that early morning, when unaware of what was actually happening? Obviously many, otherwise the lines would not have been blocked! I did read that West Yorkshire Police received around 400 calls from members of the public, who received reassurance. No complaints from West Yorkshire Police about folk blocking lines or wasting their time!
I am not 'non-compos mentis'. Nor do I panic within such unorthodox situations. When I returned indoors that morning I was concerned; not for what I had not seen but for what I could not see. That's why I, and obviously many others telephoned the emergency services.
I did view 'live breaking news' television coverage on Sky News (news of which I could not receive through BBC24 until 2.17am, about one hour and 20 minutes after the event). How else would I have known what was happening? And, I saw the impact of what was occurring around the country at that time, which gave me more reason to call the 999 and non-emergency lines.
If you had all read my letter wholly without wanting to instantly lambast me about the calls I made, you would have also noticed I was also concerned about other emergencies. What if somebody I know had fallen ill (my partner getting worse?), still no response from 999 nor the non-emergency at the time! I was in contact with a relative who was actually having a vertigo attack during the quake, which brought on him a panic attack because he did not know why his room had shook so much. I reassured him, which helped to calm him down.
I have concern for my family and neighbours. I took it upon myself to do something responsible and positive. Things of which many folk complain do not happen enough.
Where was the concern and compassion from Unnamed, Paul Brownley and John Friskney, for their family and neighbours that early morning? Did they just make a cup of tea or go back to sleep?
NICK PEARSON, Gipton, Leeds
The full article contains 470 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
