Overview

• On July 31 a 60-year-old British tourist bypassed English and Italian closure signs on the 2,500-meter Ferrata Berti and became trapped by falling rocks.
• Rescue teams launched a helicopter operation that was hampered by low clouds and required two flights before winching the uninjured hiker to safety.
• Veneto’s regional health authority billed him €14,000 for the helicopter rescue, a charge far exceeding the few hundred euros paid by EU nationals for comparable operations.
• Post-Brexit non-EU visitors without rescue insurance face steep fees, adding to volunteer rescue services’ financial strains as many billed parties never settle their accounts.
• Authorities have reinforced the Ferrata Berti closure with larger multilingual placards and blocked both trail entrances following a deadly summer surge in Alpine rockfalls.