As someone pointed out earlier, it's unlikely that travel insurance would cover such a non-emergency scenario anyway. Medical emergency, sure, life-threatening "getting lost in the wilderness" also, but "was just over an hour from civilisation, didn't feel like walking in the dark, would have been expensive and difficult to get home", I don't think so.
I also strongly suspect that this is why Rega have decided to levy the full cost on the OP - this sort of frivolous usage puts other people's lives in danger, not least the real emergency that might have been happening on the other side of the mountain.
When something goes wrong in the mountains, with time wasted, the time can appear to speed by and in no time at all, the light fades and it gets dark.
You mentioned your destination was a cafe, but from your account, and because of lack of transport, it would appear this wasn't your original final hiking destination.
In Switzerland there's the personal responsibility principle. You're allowed to do anything you want as long as you don't endanger others. In this case there was other adult and a child.
If you put a child at risk in the mountain due to your personal decisions, you might be liable for child endangerment for bringing the child while not being prepared to survive the night out there. I'd better walk away calmly before calling more attention to this incident. Someone may point a finger in the direction of child endangerment and you might become the catch instead of the hunter.
Back to the personal responsibility principle. I have no knowledge about it and found anything. But, is it legal to refuse rescue after you called them? Do you surrender or you still keep your duty and capability to take decisions after the call? Any lawyer can help us here with this question?
On a second thought, the child complicates the issue. What is the legal obligation of a rescuer to a child after the responsible adult calls for rescue? To me, it implies that the adult surrenders the responsibility of the child to the rescuer, but where's the lawyer to clarify this?
Well yes- as a REGA paying member for many many years- if I had had a genuine life-threatening accident, and I or my loved ones had been left longer than necessary on the mountain, in terrible pain- because of time-wasters- I would not be happy. There is a limited number of helicopters and staff- and night rescues are much more costly and dangerous.
Basically, learn from mistake, don't put others life at risk, in your family or others- and pay the bill. Argument is futile- no lawyer, no Court will side with you in such a case against REGA,. NO WAY.
I think they must have been left at home, along with their common sense.
Honestly, it's hard to grasp the sheer folly exhibited by some people - quite a few people are killed in the alps each year by failing to take even the most basic and simple precautions before venturing out.
The cafe was our original destination. We followed a green thinking route using google maps. But when we reached the top we found the sign to the cafe in the opposite direction from the original route we followed. We were confused and called 144 to guide us because we didn't want to meet such "surprises" anymore. They told to follow the sign and not to follow the original route. The estimated time to reach the cafe was 1.5 hours. But in one hour they called the helicopter when we almost reached them. I alwas argued the fact of calling the helicopter in general when we could easily got them in 30 more minutes. We already passed all more or less dangerous parts with snowfields. It's a super touristic arena valley in Flims nothing dangerous. I know it only now of course.
Oh dear, it just gets worse, doesn't it. You didn't even have a proper map? Well, you're not the first person to get into trouble by blindly following your GPS, and I'm sure you won't be the last.
Have you considered suing Google for getting you into the situation in the first place?
I'm a patron and pay more each year than I "have to". If I called them under OP's circumstances, I would pay the full bill too.
OP, next time you are in Switzerland, call 143 instead. Telefon Seelsorge (pastoral advice service), they will get you through the night for free.
From the first post I kept thinking about the son. Not a responsible parent we deal with here. The son could also have been the reason, Rega just decided to get them the heck back to civilisation.
nothing dangerous?? google maps??? are you kidding me???? you really have no idea do you? the weather in the mountains can turn in seconds, and yes I really do live on the other side of that mountain, one second can be nice and warm and the next the foehn wind hits and you have 150km wind at 2500m, clearly you have no idea what dangers there where, if everything was fine then why the hell did you call for rescue?? you say they could have landed in the snow field, really??? you're a trained pilot who knows the terrain up there now?? maybe, just maybe those guys know a little bit more about the mountains, the weather, and how dumb tourists are then you, eh?
I remember this funny case from last year. The mother of a climber called rescue and the son refused to times to be rescued with the helicopter next to him. Then, the mountain rescue "took over" the situation and rescued the climbers on the 3rd helicopter flight. Then, the climbers where charged for 3 helicopter flights https://www.emergency-live.com/hems/...hems-missions/
It would be very interesting if there was a radio exchange between the Rega and the police. If the police took over and ordered the rescue, any decision was not longer in hands of OP or Rega.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the police took over after they knew a minor was in danger. Come on OP, tell the whole story, was the police involved? Did they ordered the flight?
- majority don't see what they are doing as dangerous
- more and more tourists use their mobile phones to call an 'emergency' when there isn't one.
Oh, and I should clarify. if a Swiss person get picked up by Rega, they will bill their health insurance and any other insurance for as much of the cost as they can... it's not 'free' for Swiss people either. What they do provide 'free' is search and rescue and also medical repatriation services (bringing Swiss people back from other countries when they need urgent medical care).
The REKA version is a 109 variant and modified for high altitude work. It has to be able to service ski casualties, therefore max take-off altitude is certainly well above 3,000m.