Volunteer or professional, what happens if a rescuer gets badly injured or killed trying to rescue some idiot?

That's not what we're discussing here.

The issue is not charging the victim for the medical expenses of an injured searcher (for which, in any case, the searcher should be insured), but charging for the cost of the search. So enough with the emotional pleas, the poor little children, etc.

Neither are we talking about pulling jeeps out for free; we're talking about lifesaving rescue.

The points re rescue insurance and delayed calls for help are valid. There is a downside to making people pay for rescue.

Most people do agree that there's nothing wrong with charging people who are reckless, but who defines "reckless?" Some people think that whitewater canoeing is ipso facto reckless.

And when you lower the bar to "negligence," well, I can find you negligent every single time something goes wrong, if I want to. I'm not sure that's a good path to turn down.