Tripped into the lifeboat
A descriptive phrase meaning when a person offers a fictional account of an unlikely accident to excuse a huge real-life blunder or to cover up an act of pure cowardice.
Example:
The Captain would have stayed behind with the sinking ship if he hadn't tripped into the lifeboat.
The ER staff really tripped into the lifeboat with the patient.
He tripped into the lifeboat on that decision.
The Captain would have stayed behind with the sinking ship if he hadn't tripped into the lifeboat.
The ER staff really tripped into the lifeboat with the patient.
He tripped into the lifeboat on that decision.