I was ,, tonight with the south African team of fire fighters that have come here at their own expence to compete in the world firefighters games.

One of the contenders is a Rudi Swanepoel who after paying his own way to get here to compete found that his luggage had not come with him.....or was lost by the airways.

His goods arrived tonight at 10pm . On opening his luggage he found that his track suits were missing and a cross that his wife had given to him for luck had dissapeared.
To add insult to injury.....All his trainers that he had brought were gone as well.

He is attending the opening of the games tomorrow with borrowed clothing.
Another South African firefighter is in the same boat with his track suits missing! his name is Steven Boyd..

I cannot comprehend that an international team can come here and be robbed of the possesions that they need to compete in the World Firefighters Games staged in Sheffield.

AS this came to light tonight the 27th no newspapers have been informed.

What a great country we have where the very goods that are stolen from these people are the ones that are part of the competition.....

May I say that it may be the couriors or the airways that have stolen the goods but..........If sheffield is to host games....Then Sheffield is responsible for the welfare and safety of these people!

I appologised to them for the thefts on behalf of Sheffield but I feel that it is disgracefull that this should have happened

That's a disgrace, but nothing of the un-usual. I've heard endless stories of items being stolen in suitcases. When I next travel by air I'll be sure to take everything of vaule in my hand luggage. And my suitcase will have a lock the size of my fist on it.

Feel sorry for the poor guys:( Maybe it would be funny to pack a suitcase full of exploding paint to get the gits that open them without authority.

Originally posted by J-Blaze
That's a disgrace, but nothing of the un-usual. I've heard endless stories of items being stolen in suitcases. When I next travel by air I'll be sure to take everything of vaule in my hand luggage. And my suitcase will have a lock the size of my fist on it.

Feel sorry for the poor guys:( Maybe it would be funny to pack a suitcase full of exploding paint to get the gits that open them without authority.
TY for your concern and comments.

I do feel for these people because they had to pay for everything themselves....
I am trying myself to help them out and have a Barbecue lined up for them on Sunday.

I hope that they get the results that they have worked so hard to go for

Does anyone who reads the forum, work at or know someone in authority at a sports shop, who would benefit from free publicity by giving some equipment to these guys. I am ringing Radio Sheffield to see if their news people might be interested.

update
Radio Sheffield say they will check it out with the police and if it's genuine they will run it on their news broadcasts.

Just reading the post and it brings tears to the eyes that we have such ratbags like this around. I can only wish you all the very best in trying to help these poor guys, it'speople like you who we are proud of when you come to someone in need like this. Sorry I live so far away. I am in aussie. I wish you all the best and GOOD LUCK to the fire fighters

Regards Vera

Originally posted by owdlad
Does anyone who reads the forum, work at or know someone in authority at a sports shop, who would benefit from free publicity by giving some equipment to these guys. I am ringing Radio Sheffield to see if their news people might be interested.

update
Radio Sheffield say they will check it out with the police and if it's genuine they will run it on their news broadcasts.

Thanks or everything However, because the theft has taken place between the luggage being taken off the plane, getting lost then being delivered the matter has not been reported to the police as yet.
The SY police have informed me that the cime has to be reported where the crime has taken place so no luck there as we dont know where it happened fron Heathrow to Sheffield


I am now at this very moment on the phone to them to see what we can do but I think that they will put this down to a claim from the airlines.

It will be a shame that these guys will be at the official opening today without official track suits.....I am sure that we will be able to get something that looks near to their kit...

The Star rang me at 8am this morning to get the story so we will see what happens now

I doubt the thefts (if proven) took place here in Sheffield.

I also doubt we can be blamed for the thefts - there was a recent set of reports on the antics of baggage handlers at UK airports where they would do such jolly japes as split bags that obviously belonged to couples or families, jump up and down on nice bags, deliberately split cases so that they spilled stuff out and so on.

This on top of the exposure of security issues.

What is needed is a top to bottom purge of the people who manage and perform these tasks. If you pay peanuts to the people, you will get monkeys applying to do the job as well as folks who are genuine. But to be frank you surely can't do this sort of robbery without a 'connivance culture' that basically allows it to happen.

Time to clean out the stable.....

Joe

I know what you mean Joe. My wife had her case trashed in Tenerife earlier this year and of course no one wanted responsibility for it, they even had the cheek to tell her to bring the smashed case home with her to show it was broken.

I met a couple of the firefighters last night and had a bit of a drink with them. From the bits I remember of the conversation they were very impressed by Sheffield and how friendly it is

This morning the star newspapers sent a reporter to the S.A.Team.
So far we have managed to get the clothing issue sorted out with one exception but I hope to have that sorted by the end of today.Thanks to everyone that has participated with giving help in one way or another

Is that Pastor Rudi Swanepoel? Is he the same Rudi Swanepoel who was mixed up with Unita in Angola? Just interested.

Originally posted by max
Is that Pastor Rudi Swanepoel? Is he the same Rudi Swanepoel who was mixed up with Unita in Angola? Just interested.
No max, He's a firefighter from Fairview just outside Johannesburg.

Originally posted by DerekH
No max, He's a firefighter from Fairview just outside Johannesburg.

OK, thanks. Wish him well from me and commiserations for his loss.

Can you ask him why they haven't included fencing in their games but have got poker?

Originally posted by max
OK, thanks. Wish him well from me and commiserations for his loss.

Can you ask him why they haven't included fencing in their games but have got poker?

That amazed me too...I will ask them after the opening ceremony.....And Thanks for the best wishes I will show them the thread when they come here tomorrow.

Yes let's give them all a special welcome to the friendliest place in Britain.
How many competitors are here?I have read four reports and the total varies from 5000 to 2500.
Anyone know?

did the S.A. team get their trackys/trainers/gear sorted ?

Originally posted by BAZZO
Yes let's give them all a special welcome to the friendliest place in Britain.
How many competitors are here?I have read four reports and the total varies from 5000 to 2500.
Anyone know?

I think you will see that there are around 2500 The games and photo's can be followed on the following website.

www.wffg.co.uk

Cheers

Originally posted by THE_ONE
did the S.A. team get their trackys/trainers/gear sorted ?

Not everything, but they are making do with what they have,