This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-45018213
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Man puts out Southend Pier fire by peeing on it | Man puts out Southend Pier fire by peeing on it |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man put out a fire on the world's longest pleasure pier by urinating on it. | A man put out a fire on the world's longest pleasure pier by urinating on it. |
| Thomas Watson noticed a small fire on the deserted Southend Pier and took matters into his own hands by relieving himself over the flames. | Thomas Watson noticed a small fire on the deserted Southend Pier and took matters into his own hands by relieving himself over the flames. |
| The council thanked him for his "quick-thinking tinkling" but said it was confident its own sprinkler system would have worked, as The Sun reported. | The council thanked him for his "quick-thinking tinkling" but said it was confident its own sprinkler system would have worked, as The Sun reported. |
| Essex Fire Service confirmed it was called but no action was required. | Essex Fire Service confirmed it was called but no action was required. |
| Mr Watson, 22, from Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire, was visiting the 1.3 mile (2.1km) pier with his partner and daughter on Friday at about 19:30 BST, when he noticed smoke and small flames on the wooden planks. | Mr Watson, 22, from Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire, was visiting the 1.3 mile (2.1km) pier with his partner and daughter on Friday at about 19:30 BST, when he noticed smoke and small flames on the wooden planks. |
| The weather had turned and "we were literally the last people there", he told the BBC. | The weather had turned and "we were literally the last people there", he told the BBC. |
| Mr Watson said the fire was "only small on top", but a lot of smoke was coming from underneath and he "thought it was all burning under there". | Mr Watson said the fire was "only small on top", but a lot of smoke was coming from underneath and he "thought it was all burning under there". |
| "I looked at it and the wood was proper charring away, like white with an orange glow. | "I looked at it and the wood was proper charring away, like white with an orange glow. |
| "Using my initiative I decided to empty my bladder." | "Using my initiative I decided to empty my bladder." |
| Although his partner had called the fire service, Mr Watson had tackled it by the time crews arrived. | Although his partner had called the fire service, Mr Watson had tackled it by the time crews arrived. |
| A Southend Borough Council spokesman said: "Whilst we have faith our sprinkler system would have soon sprung into action, we understand the visitor deployed his own sprinkler system to swiftly extinguish the miniature inferno." | A Southend Borough Council spokesman said: "Whilst we have faith our sprinkler system would have soon sprung into action, we understand the visitor deployed his own sprinkler system to swiftly extinguish the miniature inferno." |
| He said the family could come back and visit pier for free, but added: "[We] kindly ask that he keeps his trousers firmly secured on this occasion." | He said the family could come back and visit pier for free, but added: "[We] kindly ask that he keeps his trousers firmly secured on this occasion." |
| You may also like: | |
| Southend Pier | Southend Pier |
| The pier has been a victim of disaster since it first opened in 1830. | The pier has been a victim of disaster since it first opened in 1830. |
| See more stories and videos like this |