Ontario man disputes $5,400 rescue bill

[Hum]

OSHAWA, Ont. - A southern Ontario man says he will fight the $5,400 bill he got from a fire department for rescuing him after he went through the ice while fishing.

Neil Robbescheuten, 62, was ice fishing on Lake Scugog earlier this month when a dense fog rolled in and he became disoriented trying to find his way back to the shore.

The Oshawa man says he went through the ice in a marshy area near some bullrushes so he was able to pull himself out onto a tree stump while he called 911 and three firetrucks responded to rescue him.

He later received the invoice of $5,392.78 for the rescue and says he plans to fight it because he worries it will make people think twice about calling emergency services when they're in trouble.

Scugog Fire Chief Richard Miller says while this is the first such invoice there, the township north of Oshawa has had the ability to issue them for years.

Miller says the temperature was warm and rainy that weekend and the local conservation authorities had issued warnings urging people to stay away from bodies of water.

source

[linsook]

Too bad for him.

[moloko]

well don't taxes pay for 911 service? I understand if he was not in danger or a prank call..paying for the rescue but this was a danger here.

Fireworks are dangerous and there are many warnings but if you get injured you still call 911 and you do not get billed for it.

[threetonesun]

well don't taxes pay for 911 service? I understand if he was not in danger or a prank call..paying for the rescue but this was a danger here.

Fireworks are dangerous and there are many warnings but if you get injured you still call 911 and you do not get billed for it.

No, you can get billed for it, although if the services provided are simply putting you in an ambulance, insurance usually covers it.

This isn't the first time this has happened, hikers who get rescued off of mountains often have to pay for the helicopter search and rescue teams. It's not cheap to keep those whirly birds in the air.

[OOOOOOOO]

There's a dollar sign in front of it ... so it was obviously likely to happen :D

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

If it's his own fault for doing something dangerous I would suggest that he pay.

[Colin McGregor]

local conservation authorities had issued warnings urging people to stay away from bodies of water.

Here in Ontario we fine stupidity. He was told to stay away he didn't. Just like you gotta pay for the ambulance ride if its not an emergency.

[shakey]

He should have to pay it. Screw people worrying about calling for help. We need to get people worried about doing stupid ****. Cut back on the stupid ****, cut back on the cost. :p

[Hum]

He may not be able to pay that much.

And I'd like to see where they came up with that high a bill.

[Growled Member]

He may not be able to pay that much.

And I'd like to see where they came up with that high a bill.

That's true. Does it really cost that much to respond to a call?

[perochan]

"three firetrucks responded to rescue him."

isn't 3 firetrucks a bit excess for rescuing a man? i guess it was a slow day for fire fighters.

[123456789A]

Story can't be true. This kind of thing only happens in the US.