Coastguard quits in health and safety row

A coastguard who risked his life to save a school girl stranded on a cliff face has quit after his actions have been criticised for being in breach of health and safety regulations.

Volunteer coastguard Paul Waugh climbed down a cliff without safety equipment in a gale to save 13 year old Faye Harrison from falling 300 feet.

Since the rescue Mr Waugh, who has worked for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for 13 years, claimed he faced "immense pressure" from bosses as he did not wait for back up as health and safety rules stipulate.

Speaking to thenorternecho.co.uk, a spokesman for the MCA said: "We wish Paul well in his future endeavours and the MCA is very grateful for his past activities and work in the Coastguard Rescue Service."

"However, the MCA is very mindful of health and safety regulations which are in place for very good reasons," he added.

"We are not looking for dead heroes," he concluded.

Mr Waugh said he was thought he would have been a coast guard all his life "but couldn't carry on being treated so badly".

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