remember the article said he was suffering from "altitude sickness", in so many words.... Springer is pretty high up in the clouds, 3782 ft elevation, compared to Green Acres, IL where the poor guy came from.
it was snowing, he couldn't find the trail, he panicked and pushed the button. I agree folks like this should be required to pay a fee to compensate the local taxpayers who are footing the bill for EMS services.
we go thru the same thing down here in PC Beach, if you own property you pay hefty property taxes, which pay for EMS services that have to be called out repeatedly during Spring Break to respond to stupid, drunk spring breakers jumping off condo and hotel balconies or wreck their vehicles, these folks should have to payup for their own stupidity and recklessness
that guy from IL should probably stick to hiking in shopping malls, at least there he should be able to find the food court with no trouble