A woman faced sharp criticism from a firefighter and local residents after attempting to walk under dangerously unstable scaffolding in Bethnal Green, east London.
The scaffolding had been severely damaged by Storm Bert, which lashed the UK with winds reaching up to 75mph on Saturday, November 23, leaving the structure precariously hanging over Bethnal Green Road.
Carrying a shopping bag, the woman ignored two clearly marked emergency service cordon tapes and ventured onto the closed-off street.
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Her risky actions were halted just in time by a vigilant firefighter, who sternly warned her to step back.
“Are you stupid? Get back,”
he scolded, pointing towards the hanging scaffolding and urging her to take a closer look at the danger.
The incident, captured on a bystander’s mobile phone, occurred near a Nando’s restaurant on Sunday, November 24.
The footage quickly sparked a wave of online criticism, with locals and social media users lambasting her reckless behavior.
Victoria Atherton, a witness, echoed the firefighter’s rebuke, asking,
“Are you stupid?”
Nick Hurst suggested the woman should have been allowed to face the consequences of her actions, remarking,
“After walking through all the tapes, he should’ve just let her carry on and find out what would happen.
Survival of the fittest.”
Others shared their disbelief, with one individual named Russ commenting,
“The fact she walked under three separate tapes shows how thick she is.
” Another user, Joe, humorously questioned,
“Who’s mum is this? Get her some help.
” Tom added, “I’m sorry, but how can you actually be this stupid?”
The London Fire Brigade later confirmed details of the incident.
A spokesperson stated, “Firefighters were called to scaffolding in a precarious position on Bethnal Green Road.
Crews removed the scaffolding from the building.
Control Officers received the first of eight calls at 4:47pm on November 24 and mobilized two fire engines from Bethnal Green and Walthamstow fire stations to the scene.
The incident was over for firefighters at 10:03pm.”
Storm Bert left a trail of destruction across the UK, disrupting travel and damaging structures, as emergency services worked tirelessly to address the chaos.
This event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety warnings during such hazardous conditions.
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SOURCE: Foolish woman blasted by firefighter after trying to walk under scaffolding destroyed by Storm Bert
