France debates charging for mountain rescue services

Debate has resurfaced in France regarding whether mountain rescue services should be charged to users, following a recent high-altitude intervention by the Pelotons de gendarmerie de haute montagne (PGHM) in Savoie. The rescue of a 20-year-old individual at 3,800 meters on the Grande Casse glacier, described as an intervention following "unconscious" risk-taking, has brought renewed attention to the rising costs of these operations.

A report from the Cour des comptes suggests that a new financial model may be necessary due to increasing intervention frequencies. In 2024, the total cost of mountain rescue was estimated at nearly 110 million euros, with an average cost of at least 10,780 euros per operation—a 55% increase since 2012. Approximately 80% to 90% of these interventions require helicopter transport, which is currently funded by the state.

The Cour des comptes is considering models where costs are partially or fully billed in specific situations, similar to the system in Switzerland where rescue fees are systematically charged to the rescued person. Local officials, including the Mayor of Saint-Gervais, Jean-Marc Peillex, have expressed support for evolving the system, stating that rescue services should not remain free for everyone.