Mayor at the Foot of Mont Blanc Makes Rule-Breaking Climbers Pay for Their Own Rescue

Jean-Marc Peillex, mayor of the French commune of Saint-Gervais, has refused to authorise a free helicopter evacuation for a group of climbers who scaled Mont Blanc in defiance of an official route ban. According to Italy's Corriere della Sera, the tourists ignored warnings from local authorities, mountain guides and the rescue services of Saint-Gervais, Chamonix and Courmayeur about the risk of rockfalls along the Goûter Couloir.

The route had been closed since mid-July due to heavy rockslides, with local authorities strongly urging climbers to avoid it. "They didn't listen to the mountain guides who tried to talk them out of the climb. They ignored every warning from the rescue services, even the photos of rockfalls circulating on social media," said the mayor, who is well known for his uncompromising stance on mountain safety. The commune itself posted footage of a rockslide that occurred on Tuesday, 11 August, on its official website.

Rescue — but only if you pay

The mayor advised the stranded climbers to charter a private helicopter at their own expense. According to him, a helicopter would be sent, but it would cost 15,000 euros (about 363,000 crowns). The commune refused to foot the bill for rescuing reckless tourists using taxpayers' money.

"This case should set a precedent so that the rules governing French rescue services are finally reformed: assistance should only be provided in genuine emergencies. Irresponsible people must pay for their own recklessness rather than abuse the rescue services," Peillex said. He described the group's decision to take the Goûter route despite the ban and serious warnings as "playing Russian roulette," The Guardian reports.

Not an isolated case

According to the mayor, the problem isn't limited to this one group of 32 rule-breakers — dozens of would-be mountaineers regularly disregard every warning. He recalled how five tourists from Romania once tried to climb the mountain "in shorts, trainers and straw hats," and were only stopped by the mountain police.

"People want to climb into the mountains, but they carry death along with them in their backpacks. So let's work out the cost of their rescue in advance — it's unacceptable for French taxpayers to foot the bill," the mayor of Saint-Gervais stressed. This year's extreme heat and drought have sharply increased the risk of rockfalls, leading to the closure of the Tête Rousse and Goûter areas and trails. Rockslides there occur both day and night.

Source: novinky.cz