News of the rescue of three young British adventurers has sparked an intense debate in Iceland about the need to charge foreign adventurers who need the help of Search and Rescue teams for the cost of the assistance. Many Icelanders have weighed in on social media, blasting the Britons for recklessness. Several politicians have also weighed in, floating ideas of forcing all foreign adventurers to buy insurance which would cover all cost arising from any potential rescue missions.
Should stick to watching Dora the Explorer
Icelandic social media has been brimming with criticism as indignant Icelanders have showered the young british adventurers with angry comments online. Most Facebook users who shared or commented on news stories or posts about the rescue seemed to believe the three Britons had been poorly prepared. One suggested that the three crawl under a blanket in the sofa, “watching some explorer stuff on TV, for example those shows with Dora.”
Shame on you… Stupid kids
A video trailer for the trip “The Coldet Crossing Pilot”, which the Britons released on YouTube earlier this year, well before the trip had started, has also drawn a lot of heat from angry Icelanders. One YouTube user wrote the team members should be shamed of themselves:
Shame on you guys! You showed Icelandic weather forces and Icelandic search and rescue team a great disrespect by your foolishness! Ok once needing rescue… But three times! These people are family people that are ripped from theyr dinners eith theyr children etc to go help! Respect that! Stupid kids !
Most of the criticism has focused on these themes, the number of rescue missions, the disrespect people feel the British adventurers have shown the rescuers, and unkind comments about their age and percieved lack of preparation. However, some commenters seem more angry than others. One wrote: “You must understand, that there are people that wish you quite horrible things.”
Adventurers should be forced to buy insurance
Icelandic politicians took the opportunity to raise the question whether foreign visitors should not be forced to contribute to rescue reams or pay for their rescue. Elín Hirst, an MP for the conservative Independence Party wrote in a status on her Facebook wall that parliament had to step in and pass laws to protect the Search and Rescue teams from having to shoulder the financial burden of “recklessness”, like the adventure of the young Britons: She added that foreign visitors should be forced to buy insurance to cover things like this.
The local news site visir.is reports that many seemed to agree with Elín. An MP for the centre-right Progressive party seconded Elín, pointing out that adventures like this were becoming “excessively expensive fun”, while the leader of the Conservative party in Reykjavik City Hall argued we had to ensure there “is a system in place which ensures that costs incurred by foreign travellers are covered.”
Have promised to make a donation to ICE-SAR
The Coldest Crossing team has sought to counter this criticism online, both on their Facebook wall and other online platforms. On their Twitter feed they point out the trip was thoroughly planned, and that the route was reviewed by members of ICE-SAR.
Guðbrandur Örn Arnarson at ICESAR spent 3 hours reviewing the route in detail with @TheColdestCrossing on Dec 2nd. pic.twitter.com/GkrnYPMx8x
— The Coldest Crossing (@ColdestCrossing) December 29, 2015
The team has repeatedly stressed its deep gratitude to the rescuers and the help they have received from ICE-SAR during all stages of their adventure.
In a response to a tweet from Iceland Insider the Coldest Crossing team backed up their gratitude to the rescue teams which had assisted them, promising to make a donation to ICE-SAR for “their amazing help”.
.@IcelandMag we are planning on a donation to ICESAR for their amazing help. And like you said, weather has been exceptionally foul.
— The Coldest Crossing (@ColdestCrossing) December 29, 2015
News of the rescue of three young British adventurers has sparked an intense debate in Iceland about the need to charge foreign adventurers who need the help of Search and Rescue teams for the cost of the assistance. Many Icelanders have weighed in on social media, blasting the Britons for recklessness. Several politicians have also weighed in, floating ideas of forcing all foreign adventurers to buy insurance which would cover all cost arising from any potential rescue missions.
Should stick to watching Dora the Explorer
Icelandic social media has been brimming with criticism as indignant Icelanders have showered the young british adventurers with angry comments online. Most Facebook users who shared or commented on news stories or posts about the rescue seemed to believe the three Britons had been poorly prepared. One suggested that the three crawl under a blanket in the sofa, “watching some explorer stuff on TV, for example those shows with Dora.”
Shame on you… Stupid kids
A video trailer for the trip “The Coldet Crossing Pilot”, which the Britons released on YouTube earlier this year, well before the trip had started, has also drawn a lot of heat from angry Icelanders. One YouTube user wrote the team members should be shamed of themselves:
Shame on you guys! You showed Icelandic weather forces and Icelandic search and rescue team a great disrespect by your foolishness! Ok once needing rescue… But three times! These people are family people that are ripped from theyr dinners eith theyr children etc to go help! Respect that! Stupid kids !
Most of the criticism has focused on these themes, the number of rescue missions, the disrespect people feel the British adventurers have shown the rescuers, and unkind comments about their age and percieved lack of preparation. However, some commenters seem more angry than others. One wrote: “You must understand, that there are people that wish you quite horrible things.”
Adventurers should be forced to buy insurance
Icelandic politicians took the opportunity to raise the question whether foreign visitors should not be forced to contribute to rescue reams or pay for their rescue. Elín Hirst, an MP for the conservative Independence Party wrote in a status on her Facebook wall that parliament had to step in and pass laws to protect the Search and Rescue teams from having to shoulder the financial burden of “recklessness”, like the adventure of the young Britons: She added that foreign visitors should be forced to buy insurance to cover things like this.
The local news site visir.is reports that many seemed to agree with Elín. An MP for the centre-right Progressive party seconded Elín, pointing out that adventures like this were becoming “excessively expensive fun”, while the leader of the Conservative party in Reykjavik City Hall argued we had to ensure there “is a system in place which ensures that costs incurred by foreign travellers are covered.”
Have promised to make a donation to ICE-SAR
The Coldest Crossing team has sought to counter this criticism online, both on their Facebook wall and other online platforms. On their Twitter feed they point out the trip was thoroughly planned, and that the route was reviewed by members of ICE-SAR.
Guðbrandur Örn Arnarson at ICESAR spent 3 hours reviewing the route in detail with @TheColdestCrossing on Dec 2nd. pic.twitter.com/GkrnYPMx8x
— The Coldest Crossing (@ColdestCrossing) December 29, 2015
The team has repeatedly stressed its deep gratitude to the rescuers and the help they have received from ICE-SAR during all stages of their adventure.
In a response to a tweet from Iceland Insider the Coldest Crossing team backed up their gratitude to the rescue teams which had assisted them, promising to make a donation to ICE-SAR for “their amazing help”.
.@IcelandMag we are planning on a donation to ICESAR for their amazing help. And like you said, weather has been exceptionally foul.
— The Coldest Crossing (@ColdestCrossing) December 29, 2015
