Stress toll on fireman, says lawyer

DEDICATED: Carterton volunteer fireman Swanney Nicho (left) has found the stress of some callouts he has attended just too much to cope with at times. PHOTO/FILE

A volunteer fireman on his third drink-driving conviction was not coping with the trauma of his duties, says his lawyer.

Carterton firefighter Swanney Nicho, 47, recently pleaded guilty in Masterton District Court to drink-driving and driving while disqualified.

On August 16 he was stopped by police on Lincoln Rd, Carterton, and blew an alcohol reading of 536mcg per litre of breath. At the time he was disqualified from driving from a previous drink-driving conviction in March and was two weeks away from getting his licence back. The legal limit for an adult driver is 400mcg.

His first drink-driving conviction was 20 years ago.

Defence lawyer Louise Elder said Nicho had since referred himself to alcohol counselling. "This offending has forced him to look at his drinking. He has come to the conclusion he needs support ... he was not coping with the trauma," she said.

"He works hard for the community in a very difficult job."

Judge Tony Walsh said Nicho had put himself and other people at risk when he got behind the wheel to drive when over the legal limit. He said it was important Nicho had been seeking help since.

Judge Walsh sentenced Nicho to six months' supervision, 100 hours' community work and disqualified him from driving for a year and a day. Nicho must apply for a three-year zero alcohol licence at the end of the disqualification period. Carterton fire chief Wayne Robinson said firefighters see "some things people never should have to see" and support was available for them.

He said Nicho was a volunteer firefighter who put "his heart and soul" into his duties.

He had been called to the Carterton balloon tragedy in which 11 people had died and more recently the crash in South Wairarapa which killed brothers Sam and Gus Donald in July. "He turns out for everything ... he's feeling the pressure."

Mr Robinson said firefighters had to deal with everything today, from car crashes to explosions and weather incidents, so saw a lot more tragedy and trauma, which the service recognised, he said.

As a result there is a critical stress management team on call 24 hours a day to support them individually.

But the guys had to make the call themselves and many didn't realise they weren't on top of it until it got too much, Mr Robinson said. "They get a bit macho. What happens is that a lot of people don't realise they are suffering stress.

"We ask them if they are alright at the time but they say they are tough and can handle it. They say 'sweet as bro' ... Everyone has different stress to deal with but we see some things people should never have to see."