If I was in their situation, I’d make some sort of charitable donation.
Three suggestions.
The Australian Volunteer Coastguard for the obvious link to sea rescue in Australia.
CanTeen - The Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer - a charity with a youth focus supported by Qantas who provided the aircraft that responded.
Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer. A French volunteer organisation that rescues those in peril around the French coast, in recognition of the sailors who picked her up.
I don’t think they should be billed. That’s not our rescue at sea works - but a donation would go some way to showing their gratitude.
Well, I am not in favor of a government bail out for this. If the family has to pay on it for years into the future, it should be their debt.
Make her and her parents pay. If I were the French Captain, I would be one p’d off salty. She put herself into that position for the good on no one but herself and her selfish parents. Balloon boy on the high seas.