Dolomites: costly rescue for an imprudent hiker

It is not about to start again. A 60 -year -old British hiker will have to pay a savory addition of 14,225 euros after being helotted by help in the Dolomites. The man had borrowed, despite precise warnings in Italian and English, a high mountain path defended because of strong probabilities of falling stones.

Panic at 2,500 meters above sea level via Ferrata Berti, near Cortina from Ampezzo, he appealed to help Thursday afternoon, reports the Guardian. According to Nicola Cherubin, head of the local mountain rescue service in San Vito Di Cadore, two helicopters and several ground teams were mobilized in delicate weather conditions.

Only helicopter flights would have cost more than 11,000 euros. The sixty -something, who said he had not seen the closure panels, is getting safe, but is now presented with an invoice that covers all of the intervention costs.

However, a few days earlier, two Belgian hikers rescued in a comparable situation, only had to pay a few hundred euros, their costs having been partially covered by European agreements. This is no longer the case for British nationals from Brexit, which directly impacted the reckless tourist.

“If you come from a third country (excluding EU) and do not have insurance, you will have to pay more,” said a spokesperson for national rescue services. He calls visitors to more responsibility. “Helicopters are intended for urgent rescues, not in comfort imprudence,” he said. If someone calls because he is tired or stuck, because he is in a place where he should not be, or if he is unscathed and has no health problems, he will have to pay. “

“This kind of behavior endangers the rescuers and can delay aid for those who really need it.” This recall is for all tourists: the mountains require respect and vigilance.