A 60-year-old British hiker ignored warning signs and entered a danger zone, only to be rescued in the Dolomites of Italy, facing a rescue expense of approximately 23 million won.
According to the Guardian on Dec. 5 (local time), around 3:30 p.m. on the 31st of last month, a 60-year-old British hiker requested rescue as rockfalls continued on a cliff path at an altitude of 2,500 meters in the northern Dolomites of Italy.
The man reportedly proceeded with his hike, ignoring at least four signs written in English and Italian that warned of "danger" and "trail closed."
As concerns about landslides increased due to severe weather, he judged that self-evacuation was difficult and sought assistance. Ultimately, a rescue team from a nearby village mobilized a helicopter to rescue him.
The Guardian reported that two helicopters were deployed to rescue this one hiker due to the bad weather. A member of the rescue team noted, "It was lucky to have survived."
This area had recently closed dozens of hiking trails due to the risks of landslides and rockfalls, but the hiker reportedly claimed he did not see any warning signs at all.
The rescue team billed the British hiker a total expense of 14,225 euros (approximately 22.89 million won) for the rescue. Of this, 11,160 euros (approximately 18 million won) was reported to be the helicopter fee for a total of 93 minutes.
Giuseppe Dal Commissioner of the Dolomiti regional health authority said, "This incident is an opportunity to reflect on the operation of helicopters." He added, "While helicopters are essential for emergency rescues in mountain environments, using them like a taxi can endanger both the rescuer and the patient."