Good for Abby.
Atta girl.
Yes this silliness of expecting private citizens to pay the cost of services that are provided in emergencies has gone a little crazy.
When a ship puts out a distress signal, all ships and rescue operations in the area that are sufficiently equipt are morally obligated to respond no matter the cost.
That has always been the long-standing rule of the sea.
If there were 15 people in the boat when the rogue wave hit and broke the mast, would everyone still be gnashing their teeth about paying for the rescue?
How about all the money that was spent looking for the millionaire that went missing going round the world in a plane? Did they bill his estate? How about the people who camped along a river in Arkansas during a rain storm? Will the families of the dead get a bill?
Lots of stupid people set out in groups (freedom flotilla) and some smart people may set out alone (her brother didn’t need to be rescued, also age 16). She had bad luck - better luck next time!
No question that all nations should cooperate when lives are at stake, that’s not the issue.
The issue is, whether the parents acted responsibly in allowing this to happen. It’s NOT like letting your kid drive a car, because while there is a risk, it’s much lower and there is a corresponding benefit to driving a car. This stunt presented a much higher risk, and there was no benefit - other than exploitative publicity. No different than the idiot Heene family and the “UFO Boy”. Parents are supposed to exercise judgement, not view their kids as a profit center for some kind of reality TV show.
Inexcusable.
If insurance was too expensive they should have gotten a clue that it wasn't a good idea to attempt the voyage.