The court heard Thomas P had left his girlfriend alone and exposed in the open and pushed on alone, apparently believing he could secure assistance from a hut on the other side of the mountain. He had declined the offer of assistance from a rescue helicopter that had been sent to see if they required help.
A storm descends on a small town, and the downpour soon turns into a flood. As the waters rise, the local preacher kneels in prayer on the church porch, surrounded by water. By and by, one of the townsfolk comes up the street in a canoe.
“Better get in, Preacher. The waters are rising fast.”
“No,” says the preacher. “I have faith in the Lord. He will save me.”
Still the waters rise. Now the preacher is up on the balcony, wringing his hands in supplication, when another guy zips up in a motorboat.
“Come on, Preacher. We need to get you out of here. The levee’s gonna break any minute.”
Once again, the preacher is unmoved. “I shall remain. The Lord will see me through.”
After a while the levee breaks, and the flood rushes over the church until only the steeple remains above water. The preacher is up there, clinging to the cross, when a helicopter descends out of the clouds, and a state trooper calls down to him through a megaphone.
“Grab the ladder, Preacher. This is your last chance.”
Once again, the preacher insists the Lord will deliver him.
And, predictably, he drowns.
A pious man, the preacher goes to heaven. After a while he gets an interview with God, and he asks the Almighty, “Lord, I had unwavering faith in you. Why didn’t you deliver me from that flood?”
God shakes his head. “What did you want from me? I sent you two boats and a helicopter.”
Helicopter rescue is a few thousand euros - and unless you have an insurance for that you have to pay that by yourself.
No idea if that was the case here - but it’d not be the first time that somebody refused rescue because of the cost.
Don’t go into the alps without experience - and make sure you have proper insurance. If you’re a member of the Alpenverein (as I am) you’d be covered - but probably also gained enough experience to not get stuck in such an entirely avoidable situation anyway.
Austria will charge people who get themselves into danger in the mountains recklessly for their rescue. And that’s right. Mountain rescue is dangerous. Those idiots don’t only endanger themselves, but also those who have to rescue them.
What.
Reminds me of the Parable of the Drowning Man:
Such a good story. I like to tell that one to evangelists, but they cut me off before I can finish it. Oh well…
In a more brutal context: Praise the Lord, pass the ammunition.
Helicopter rescue is a few thousand euros - and unless you have an insurance for that you have to pay that by yourself.
No idea if that was the case here - but it’d not be the first time that somebody refused rescue because of the cost.
Don’t go into the alps without experience - and make sure you have proper insurance. If you’re a member of the Alpenverein (as I am) you’d be covered - but probably also gained enough experience to not get stuck in such an entirely avoidable situation anyway.
Austria will charge people who get themselves into danger in the mountains recklessly for their rescue. And that’s right. Mountain rescue is dangerous. Those idiots don’t only endanger themselves, but also those who have to rescue them.