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Saturday July 31, 2010

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The Two Murrays Blog: Asylum Seekers Kicked

Posted by: 2UE | 28 January, 2010 - 3:24 PM
The Two Murrays on criticism of Navy personnel

ASYLUM SEEKERS KICKED

Can anyone tell me why two AUSTRALIAN navy servicemen could be criticised for saving a female colleague who was in danger of drowning in the open sea?

Criticism of their actions appears to be emerging from a coronial hearing in DARWIN... into the deaths of five AFGHAN asylum seekers, who either drowned or burned to death when their illegal boat blew up in April last year.
Someone on board the boat had deliberately spilled petrol on board and then set it alight.

Air force medic, Corporal SHARON JAGER, who was on secondment to the navy, was standing on the deck of the asylum seekers boat when it blew up... she was blown into the water, in full gear.  

She was struggling in the water... afraid she was going to drown under the weight of all her equipment, when she noticed two asylum seekers swimming towards her.... at the same time, a navy rescue boat pulled alongside her.

As two navy colleagues tried to pull her to safety, the two asylum seekers also tried to clamber on board... as Corporal JAGER told the inquest, they were competing for the same position.

One of her male colleagues on board the rescue boat stepped in, kicked the two asylum seekers in the head to get rid of them, screamed out for them to "Get the f... off her" ...so Corporal JAGER could be pulled to safety... the fate of the two men isn't known.

The QC assisting the coroner has suggested lives could have been saved if the navy had a "less rigid policy" of rescuing its own first...

But what were Able Seamen QUINTON BORMAN and ADRIAN MEDBURY supposed to do? Can you imagine the outcry if Corporal SHARON JAGER had been left to drown, and the two asylum seekers had been rescued instead?

5 of the more than 50 asylum seekers died… dozens more were injured… and that is terrible… but the fact remains, someone on that boat set it alight, it blew up, and an AUSTRALIAN servicewoman was saved by two quick-thinking colleagues who decided they'd pull her on board their rescue boat before they helped two asylum seekers.

Who can blame them? What would you have done... let a mate drown? I don't think so... this was a life and death situation, split second decisions had to be made, and as far as I’m concerned, the two navy lads did the right thing. 

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Blog comments Your Say

  • Sorry to say this but the NT seems to have a reputation for strange outcomes/verdicts. Remember the Lindy Chamberlain fiasco? Many people who were camping at the site were never interviewed, or called to testify.It was a trial where they wanted a verdict, fast. Now these Navy personnel, who put their lives on the line to save ILLEGALS, NOT asylum seekers, now have to justify their actions and in the process have their reputations smeared. Disgusting. And it's entirely possible that one of these illegals they saved is the murderer. Why aren't they going aftet HIM, not our Navy.

    colleen Sunday 31 January, 2010 - 11:11 AM

  • For me it is fairly basic. Having been an ex-serving member myself, we are taught to always look after your buddy first because if you get into trouble, who will be there for you, when you need help? It is the only way it works best - it is that simple; it also applies to the Army and Air Force. I am comforted to know Corporal SHARON JAGER was saved in time by her navy colleagues.
    As for the asylum seekers who tried to get into the rescue boat, the only comment I really have is “get in line, both for a new boat ride and a visa”

    Max Friday 29 January, 2010 - 2:26 PM

  • There should be no need to have a coronial inquiry perhaps only to ask why the navy put it self in harms way in the first place. These people purposly blew up thier own boat , fact is Aussie personel come first.

    z Friday 29 January, 2010 - 1:29 AM

  • Well said. I wish the media in general would acknowledge that it was not the Navy's fault the boat blew up. The crew reacted as they have been trained to do. Had they rescued the illegals first, they may not have been here today to report what happened.

    Lisa Medbury Friday 29 January, 2010 - 12:49 AM

  • Why is the the Navys fault Illegals blew up the boat. We had top medical teams neglect their own patients and race to these criminals and get paid our taxpayer money. Have the stupid Coroner on stand by and let him take over next time. Pity they even rescued these criminals.

    taxpayer Thursday 28 January, 2010 - 7:19 PM

  • if it was me i woulda kept my foot on their heads,thy blew themselves,why the bloody hell r we hammering the ADF 4,some media r a bloody joke

    Steve Thursday 28 January, 2010 - 5:31 PM

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