The families should be billed for the rescue. Payment plans with low interest.
On the positive side, search and rescue are getting valuable experience and training.
I will save my mourning...victims of drunk drivers, children dying and suffering from diseases, inhumane treatment of animals.
The aircraft being used in the rescue attempt (C-130's with infrared and Black Hawks) are military. Military search and rescue operations are budgeted as training.
Both of you have it right. Natural consequences for stupidity can be rather final. These guys sound like Darwin Award candidates to me.
And I was sick of hearing about these guys last Wednesday (I live in the North TX Metroplex).
I agree. I don't have a problem with people desiring and engaging in dangerous activities. I understand it in this prefabricated, push button world. However, if they want to engage in extremely dangerous activities they should get the full measure of the danger which would include either no rescue or required payment for rescue operations. Personally, I would prefer no rescue as the rescue attempt places innocent lives at risk.
I will hold my mourning also when I see those crosses to symbolize the AIDS death in the past year.