Saved British hikers in the Dolomites, threatens $ 16,000

Saved British hikers in the Dolomites, threatens $ 16,000

A British hiker who after ignoring warning signs and crossing barrier brands in the Italian Dolomites had to be brought to safety with a helicopter, now has to pay a high bill for his rescue.

Costs for the rescue operation

The 60-year-old, whose name was not announced, received an invoice of 14,225 euros ($ 16,400) for the use of two rescue helicopters as well as the support of more than a dozen specialized rescuers and helpers who were at his side on Thursday, according to the Veneto Alpine and Cave rescue (CNSAS).

Comparison with Belgian hikers

A week earlier, two Belgian hikers in the same region received a significantly lower bill for their rescue because they are citizens of the European Union. The United Kingdom left the EU in 2020.

High number of accidents in the Alps

In the period from June 21 to July 23, more than 80 people lost their lives while hiking in the Italian Alps and Dolomites, which makes season the most deadliest in this century. Five people continue to be missing.

Rescue operations and safety -relevant measures

The number of rescue operations has increased by 20 % compared to the previous year. This led to the closure of some of the most dangerous routes around Cortina and San Vito di Cadore, where the British hiker was saved. Maurizio Dellantonio, head of the CNSAS, reported on these developments at the weekend.

"A 60-year-old British hiker who had broken up from Passo Tre Croci this morning reported and said that he was on the Berti via ferrata and would fall from above," warned the CNSAS on Thursday evening on social media. The man had no equipment to specify his exact coordinates.

Complex rescue situation

"After reconstructing his theoretical position, he was given the instructions not to move from his protected place and to wait for help, since the summit was currently hidden by clouds. To decide a lifeguard strategy, his exact positions had to be known until the clouds were waiting. Unfortunately, the alpine rescue team from San Vito di Cadore discovered exactly in The center of a landslide was located at an altitude of 2,400 meters, ”said the CNSAS.

Risk and closure of other paths

After the rescue, CNSAS's emergency services, together with Italy's civil protection, decided to close further hiking trails. "These measures are necessary because hikers ignore existing signage, which is obviously not sufficient to prevent people, be it due to carelessness or an underestimation of the risk," said the CNSAS in one Facebook post. The post shows pictures of the existing signs that show clearly "closed" in English, Italian and German.

"This measure is intended to ensure both the security of the hikers and those of the rescue workers, both the helicopter crews and the teams on foot," added the post.

Extreme weather conditions as the cause

Dellantonio found that the man passed at least four signs to crawl around a barrier and was asked to reverse and return with them by other hikers.

The dangerous and fatal conditions in the European Alps this year are associated with extreme weather events that caused unforeseen storms that caused the landslide, rapid flooding and snowworm -like conditions during the day. Some of the recently rescued had to be taken to the hospital due to hypothermia.

Warnings of the local authorities

The local authorities warn people of being well prepared when they travel to the region to climb. "What happened to the British hiker requires a reflection," said Giuseppe Dal Ben, the Commissioner of the ULSS 1 health authority in the Dolomites, in front of reporters at the weekend.

"Helicopters are essential for time -critical operations in rough environments. For this reason, it is important that they are not misused as a taxis, which not only endangers the emergency services, but also those in need."