Disabled Vets Scoffed And Driven Away From Swimming Pool

[las47032]

Injured soldiers who lost their limbs fighting for their country have been driven from a swimming pool training session by jeering members of the public.

The men, injured during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, were taking part in a rehabilitation session at a leisure centre, when two women demanded they be removed from the pool. They claimed that the soldiers "hadn't paid" and might scare the children.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation. Adml Lord Boyce, a former head of the Armed Forces, said last night the women should be "named and shamed".

"These people are beneath contempt and everything should be done to get their names and publish them in the press," he said. "It is contemptible that people who have given up their limbs for their country should be so abused when they are trying to get fit again."

It comes after calls for the public to do more to welcome home troops back from tours of duty and to recognise the bravery of those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The unpleasant scenes broke out at Leatherhead Leisure Centre in Surrey when the wounded veterans, who are at Headley Court Military Hospital, had to use the 25-metre public pool because the hydro-pool at the defence rehabilitation centre is not big enough for swimming.

The servicemen were about to begin their weekly swimming therapy in closed-off lanes when they were verbally abused by the swimmers.
One woman in her 30s was said to be infuriated by the lane closures saying the soldiers did not deserve to be there when she had paid.

It was also reported that others complained that limbless servicemen were scaring children at the centre.

The atmosphere was said to be so tense that the soldiers' instructors removed them.

Charles Murrin, 79, a Navy veteran who saw the incident, said: "The woman said the men do not deserve to be in there and that she pays to come in the pool and they don't. I spoke to the instructor in the changing room afterwards and he was livid."

It is not the first time that Headley Court neighbours have been accused of poor behaviour.

There was uproar earlier this year after residents objected to planning permission to convert a home into a six-suite hostel for injured soldiers' families to stay in. The local council later approved the building work.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We are disappointed that a small number of people objected to the closure of swimming lanes so that patients of Headley Court could use them."

The incident comes weeks after the Help For Heroes appeal was launched to raise £5 million to build a full-size pool and gym at the centre.

Labour will today aim to repair its battered reputation with the Armed Forces by offering all military veterans priority NHS treatment, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

The concession, ordered by the Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, will be available to the estimated 4.8 million ex-servicemen and women, sources said last night.

Source: Disabled veterans jeered at swimming pool - Telegraph

[frosty0]

motherf'ers.

[Woodmonkey]

Disgusting and those people (the nasty ones) should be booted from that swimming pool. They don't deserve to swim in the same pool with those heroes.

[filthybeast]

Its a good thing I was not there I got bail money. So kicking a little ass would not be a problem.

[m60-gunner]

WTF. Are these people insane. And what does that woman mean by she has paid and they did'nt. I can't post the words I'd like to but this is the lowest of the low. These people and women should have their ideniteys exposed world wide.
It's sad that you have movies coming out dismeanin all troops from different country's. We have news people and celebs who cuss and call these men and women evil. But You never see these stories or the good that is done covered.
Wish these people's phone numbers and addresses were reavialed I got cheap long distance and plenty of stamps.

[sfga6970]

This is one of the most disgusting outrages I have ever heard of. The troops should just ask them if they will trade their money for a limb. You can always make more money, but you can't regrow a limb. Those people don't even deserve to be in the same pool as the disabled veterans.

[Snowden]

Outrageous! I'm amazed that this would happen in England. Their soldiers deserve to be honored; are those idiot women crazy? If the enemy comes to England, will they abuse their soldiers then? Or will they cry for them to come and save them. This really sours my feeling about England; I'm sorry for that, but this is really absolutely unforgivable.