To answer a few questions...
Robert B died on Mt Adams, his body was found a few weeks later. He most likely died within a few hours of his accident.
Sno-Drifter is 100% correct. The military does not charge for SAR. It's already built into the budgets. The personnel don't get paid overtime and the flight hours are chalked up to training flights.
The local sheriff's and fire agencies with helicopters don't typically charge either. Costs can vary. Snohomish County for example is staffed with mostly volunteers so the costs are much less. The old Hueys we run are actually quite cheap to fly. Compared to say Blackhawks and 412's.
https://www.outsideonline.com/1986496/search-and-rescue-public-service-not-exactly
This article discusses charging for SAR. Bottom line, it depends. Don't get lost or hurt in New Hampshire. $$$
http://www.hikesafe.com/index.php?page=costs
Washington has a vague and nearly un-enforceable law about cost recovery.
http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=38.52.430
Oregon has a cost recovery law,
https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/404.270
But with a $500.00 limit. You can't even start the engine of a helicopter for $500.00
So, should people have put themselves at risk for a guy who tried to OD on purpose? Since this is a public forum and it's no secret what I do I'll stay mum on the subject.
PS, the guy we rescued yesterday is doing fine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw6UfkknYMI
We had him in the helicopter less than 3 hours after his accident.
Air rescue is very high risk but very high reward. There are several people alive and well today only because of air rescues I have been on. Without a rapid helicopter response they would be dead today. The ones I'm thinking of were just accidents plain and simple. You can fall of your roof cleaning gutters or get hurt backcountry skiing or climbing.
Okay, still on my soapbox. Most SAR in the US is conducted by unpaid volunteers but overseen by local sheriff's agencies. They are funded by donations, charitable contributions, and out of pocket by the volunteers themselves. There are large corporate donors as well. PSE and Microsoft just to name a few here. Some private citizens have donated large sums. One family here made a huge donation after we recovered a loved ones remains.
Some of our local snowcat owners do SAR. JimVT for example. Consider donating to your local SAR groups.
JimVT likes donuts BTW.