An unusual display in Retiro Park
On Sunday, March 17, an unprecedented deployment was carried out in Retiro Park, where numerous firefighters from the Madrid City Council and up to six crews were mobilized to rescue an object that had fallen into the water.
The aim was to recover part of a Rugby World Series trophy, which had fallen into the pond during a promotional photo shoot organized by the Rugby Federation in the park. However, an oversight led to the upper part of the prize ending up submerged in the waters of the Retiro, which triggered the mobilization of the Firefighters.
The covert drill
Despite the attention the display attracted, Madrid City Council claimed that it was a simulation of this municipal body, a statement that was later revealed to be false. According to Cadena Ser reports, it was discovered that the real purpose of the deployment was not a drill, but rather the rescue of the trophy that had fallen into the water.
It is noted that the intention to cover up this mobilization was due to the fact that the maneuver was prohibited by an internal instruction dating from 2014, which prohibits Madrid City Council firefighters from carrying out underwater operations unless the life of a person, which was not the case in this situation.
Reactions and criticism
The deployment of up to six vehicles and 19 fire crews generated alarm among residents, and even the Retiro Norte association published photos of the intervention questioning what was happening. Even the newspaper ABC reported the official version of the Madrid City Council, describing the intervention as a “simulation.”
The unions of the City Hall Fire Department expressed their discontent, pointing out that public means were used for a private purpose, and criticized the intervention in the Retiro after, two years ago, the firefighters had to wait for hours to rescue a young man. in the Ambroz Lagoon.
