Should These Eejits Be Charged The Cost Of Their Rescue?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-38500093
How many people risked their lives to rescue these fools? It's Winter F_FS! what where they thinking?

[Old_Geezer]

And when they refuse to pay are we advocating putting them back ?

The rescuers are there to save those who didn't get it right.

[Mamyalynne]

I agree some make foolish choices but I doubt the Mountain Rescue actually do charge anyone - thought they were volunteers, they were when my Son in Law was a part of the organisation.


We are very lucky to have such dedicated people.

[ToraToraTora]

just bill then and enforce like a any other public penalty, through the courts in necessary.

[EDDIE51]

Do you actually expect they could afford the £200,000 or so it cost?

[ToraToraTora]

who cares.

[RATTER15]

I thought that mountain rescue teams were usually voluntary organisations and funded by charity. I may be wrong.

[Old_Geezer]

Can you bill someone for a service that they didn't request ?

[ToraToraTora]

yes, the alpine countries are legendary for it.

[douglas9401]

They did at least have some survival equipment with them.
It's a different world up there this time of year. I drive through it twice a week, 48 weeks of the year and the weather can change in the blink of an eye.

[EDDIE51]

As said, Mountain rescue is part of the 'emergency services' just as fire, police,coast guard and ambulance are . If we charge for one we must charge for all.
So charge them we have to charge a smoker who sets their house on fire, a driver who has a car crash or someone who has a heart attack!

[Mamyalynne]

I once recall a guy from Mountain Rescue being interviewed and he made the point that whilst they were all highly experienced they had all started out as green beginners and made errors.


Also some of the largest donations to the many voluntary rescue services come from those they have saved previously.

[Islay]

My grandfather worked closely with mountain rescue on the west coast.

As Douglas has said, the weather on the mountain can change in minutes and you can easily be left stranded.

Its not as if they went up there without some survival equipment - it could have ended so differently!

[mikey4444]

From what I have seen of this incident, it was the sort of thing that can happen to the best prepared people. It certainly wasn't like a similar incident on Cader Idris a few days ago.

And no, I don't think they should be charged...do we charge people when an Ambulance attends, or a Police Car, of Fire engin.

[hc4361]

Can you imagine how worse a situation might become if somebody in trouble is too scared to call the emergency services because of the cost?

If the rescue teams didn't have to rescue anyone they would be out doing practice rescues, extreme weather or not

[hc4361]

Car drivers get charged for ambulance call outs, mikey.

[mikey4444]

HC....I wasn't aware of that....I am not really doubting you, but are you sure ?

[hc4361]

I am sure, mikey. 20 years ago I was sat in a queue of traffic, barely moving.

A cyclist thumped in to the side of my car causing a lot of damage considering - he had cycled up the canal towpath at speed at literally flew over the pavement, bike and all. He suffered a broken leg, ambulance was called and I was billed £50, even though it wasn't my fault.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm aware that in some circumstances they are billed for hospital costs even when they aren't at fault during an incident, presumably because it's easy to demand from them. After all, what can they do ?

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds a more serious version of what happened to me once, hc.

[hc4361]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/506015/recovery-nhs-charges-02-2016.pdf