A British hiker has been slugged with a hefty rescue bill after ignoring warning signs while exploring the Dolomites mountain range in north-eastern Italy.
The 60-year-old had to be rescued by helicopter last Friday while exploring the rocky Ferrata Berti trail, which has an altitude of 2500 metres.
Several paths, including the trail the British man was on, were closed at the time due to the high risk of landslides, the Veneto Alpine and Cave Rescue alpine rescue service said on Facebook.
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Nicola Cherubin, the chief of the alpine rescue service, told The Guardian that the man had bypassed barriers and ignored a closure sign urging hikers to turn back, written in both English and Italian, at the start of the path.
The man made a distress call that afternoon at 3.30pm after rocks began falling overhead.
“He said he wasn’t aware that the path was closed and didn’t see the signs,” Cherubin told the media outlet.
Poor weather conditions meant two helicopters and several staff were required to winch the man 20 metres into the air to safety.
Cherubin said the man was lucky to be alive, but he would need to pay for the cost of his 93-minute rescue, as well as a fine.
The British hiker has been given a bill of €14,225 ($25,000).
Days earlier, two Belgian hikers were also rescued in similar conditions in the area.
The pair will also have to pay a bill, but it will only amount to a fraction of the UK man’s fine, because Belgium is a member of the European Union.
Giuseppe Dal Ben, the commissioner of the Ulss 1 health authority in the Dolomites, told local media that tourists should “approach the mountains with respect and caution”.
“What happened [with the British hiker] warrants some reflection,” he said.
“Helicopters are essential for time-dependent [rescue] operations in harsh environments. Precisely for this reason, it is important that they are not used as taxis, endangering not only those who are providing the assistance but those who actually need it.”
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