British hikers who had to be safely airlifted after he ignored the signs and crossed the warning barriers of Italian dolomite, pay a high price for his rescue.
According to the Veneto Alpine and Speedeological Rescue (CNSAS), the 60-year-old, whose name has not been published, was given a bill of 14,225 euros ($16,400) on Thursday to pay for the use of two rescue helicopters and more than a dozen professional rescuers and support staff.
A week ago, two Belgian hikers from the same area were handed a much smaller bill for rescue as they were citizens of the European Union. The UK left the EU in 2020.
According to the CNSA, more than 80 people died hiking in the Italian Alps and dolomite between June 21 and July 23, making it the deadliest hiking season of the century. Five people remain unrecorded.
Rescue calls, which have also risen 20% since last year, have also led to the closure of the most dangerous routes around Cortina and San Vitodi Caidea, where British hikers were rescued.
“A 60-year-old English hiker who left that morning from Pass Tre Krosi said he was in Berti via Ferrata and the rocks were falling from above,” the CNSA warned on social media on Thursday evening.
“After he reconstructed his theoretical position, he was told not to move from his protected location and wait for help as the mountain is now hidden by clouds. The exact position of the hiker was needed to determine the recovery strategy. 2,400 meters (nearly 7,900 feet).”
After the rescue, the first CNSA responder decided to work with Italian civil protection to close more paths.
“This operation was necessary as hikers ignored existing signs. This was clearly not enough to stop people due to carelessness or underestimation of risk,” the CNSA said in a Facebook post. This post will display images of existing signs that say “closed” in English, Italian and German.
“The measures are intended to protect the safety of people in transit, as well as both the helicopter rescue team and the foot team, as well as the rescuers themselves,” the Post continued.
Delantonio said the man walked past at least four signs, craped around the barrier, and was urged by the other hikers on the sign to turn around and return with them.
This year’s dangerous and deadly situation across the European Alps is responsible for extreme weather, and unpredictable storms dominate situations that lead to landslides, flash floods and snowstorms. Some of the recent rescued people have been hospitalized due to hypothermia.
Local governments warn people to prepare if they travel to the area to climb.
“What happened (with the British hikers) guarantees some reflection,” Giuseppe Dal Ben, commissioner of ULSS 1 health authorities in the Dolomites, told reporters over the weekend.
“Helicopters are essential for time-sensitive operations in harsh environments. To be precise, it’s important that they are not used as taxis and only put the risk of not only those who are providing assistance, but those who actually need it.”
