One has to ask why all these assets hung around when:-
a. the people had declined to be "rescued"
b. They were in no immediate danger and wanted to wait for the tide to go out.
People have a right to decline to be rescued although in this case rescue is not the right word - removed from an uncomfortable position is more like it. The nanny state is creeping into every thing. Let people make there own decisions. If HMCG were concerned that it may have escalated into a real rescue they could have left one person watching the couple and sent the rest home.
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