Disciplinary action for saving someones life, you couldn't make it up could you ![blink.gif](http://4.<a href="http://www.forumer.com">forumer</a>.com/html/emoticons/blink.gif)
A firefighter is being investigated after wading into a river to save a 20-year-old woman.
Tam Brown, 42, of Tayside Fire Brigade, was praised by the woman and her family after the incident in the River Tay in Perth on 6 March.
But his actions were against fire brigade rules which forbid entering the water to rescue people.
A brigade spokesman said: "The inquiry is to establish the sequence of events and what can be learned from it."
Instead of entering the water, the fire service insists officers must use the "talk, reach and throw" technique which encourages the use of poles to guide victims out of the water.
But Mr Brown, who has 15 years' service, said he made an instant judgement at the incident.
He told the Sunday Mail: "We had seconds to act. The girl was losing consciousness.
"We had one harness, so I put that on and went down 20 feet on a safety line, grabbed her and held her up out of the water.
"My colleagues tried to pull us towards the steps but the current was so bad and the rope was pulling so hard, it snapped."
Mr Brown then swam towards the edge of the water with the girl, where he was hauled to safety.
Roddy Robertson, Scottish chairman of the Fire Brigades Union, said proper training and equipment is needed.
He said: "It's a ridiculous situation that we get members put in a position where they have a moral dilemma where they can stand and watch someone drown or try and help - they made the choice to try and help.
"If Tayside want to take on a water rescue capability, they've got to invest in the training to do that."
A spokesman for Tayside Fire and Rescue said the probe was not a disciplinary investigation but when asked about the possibility of disciplinary action being taken against Mr Brown, he declined to comment.
A firefighter is being investigated after wading into a river to save a 20-year-old woman.
Tam Brown, 42, of Tayside Fire Brigade, was praised by the woman and her family after the incident in the River Tay in Perth on 6 March.
But his actions were against fire brigade rules which forbid entering the water to rescue people.
A brigade spokesman said: "The inquiry is to establish the sequence of events and what can be learned from it."
Instead of entering the water, the fire service insists officers must use the "talk, reach and throw" technique which encourages the use of poles to guide victims out of the water.
But Mr Brown, who has 15 years' service, said he made an instant judgement at the incident.
He told the Sunday Mail: "We had seconds to act. The girl was losing consciousness.
"We had one harness, so I put that on and went down 20 feet on a safety line, grabbed her and held her up out of the water.
"My colleagues tried to pull us towards the steps but the current was so bad and the rope was pulling so hard, it snapped."
Mr Brown then swam towards the edge of the water with the girl, where he was hauled to safety.
Roddy Robertson, Scottish chairman of the Fire Brigades Union, said proper training and equipment is needed.
He said: "It's a ridiculous situation that we get members put in a position where they have a moral dilemma where they can stand and watch someone drown or try and help - they made the choice to try and help.
"If Tayside want to take on a water rescue capability, they've got to invest in the training to do that."
A spokesman for Tayside Fire and Rescue said the probe was not a disciplinary investigation but when asked about the possibility of disciplinary action being taken against Mr Brown, he declined to comment.