B&B Rescue 'Cost £55,000'

The search for a missing walker who was actually tucked up in a bed and breakfast may have cost £55,000 according to a story on the BBC news web site.

The 71-year-old Londoner went missing after losing contact with his companion on a section of the Pennine Way in County Durham on Monday sparking off a major search involving six hours of RAF helicopter flying time, a police spotter plane and four mountain rescue teams.

The estimated cost includes £48,000 for the helicopter, £2,000 for the police plane and £5,000 for the rescue teams.

The big worry for walkers and climbers is that the story will spark another furore over the supposed cost of mountain rescues. The reality, as most of us know, is that rescue teams are composed of volunteers who willingly give their time free to help fellow hillgoers, while the RAF and Navy helicopter units involved see the time spent on rescue missions as valuable training and put the flying hours towards their monthly counts.

Squadrons have to fly a certain number of hours anyway to maintain their operational readiness and the simple truth is that if they weren't on rescue missions, they'd simply be flying mock sorties simply to get the hours in.

Clearly if you are separated from friends in the hills, it's only sensible to make the effort to ensure they and the authorities know that you're safe, which is where the 71-year-old Londoner went wrong, but costing out mountain rescues on a totally unrealistic basis is ridiculous. Let's hope it doesn't lead to another absurd witch hunt.

For the original story on the BBC site click here.