The inherent power output and utility of machines/equipment (be they chainsaws, blowtorches) that can potentially help more in situations as these (when we visualise in our own way from the comfort of our homes reading on a computer screen) have real issues in deployment on the ground in this environment. Take the partial pressure of oxygen available at such altitudes....it can be half or less than that at sea level. That severely degrades the performance of all such equipment, especially if they are of the small handheld versions.... and the logistics needed for any larger system with say forced oxygen feeding...or just much larger size to account for meeting performance requirements lead to a whole different world of issues and problems. This is also purely from the operations perspective, there are tons of other problems you need to factor (transport, deployment, maintenance, employability in crisis etc)....and then you got to do a CBA in how many lives you put at increased risk over larger time periods by employing such changes to help mitigate the 1 in a 100 or 1000 (or more) situation.
That said I am sure that this particular incident's lessons (whatever they may be in the logistics perspective) will have served as a sobering reminder and measures will now have been taken on the ground to better prepare for when it happens again (by incorporating changes that maximise readiness/prep while mitigating negative effects or curtailing them completely).
Then we come to why was a rope brought "knowing" it most definitely wont work.
First they were not aware of the extent of his entrapment till much later .
Second, the human psyche is one that has to keep trying to get the required energy for any rescue of this nature to happen. 0 is an absolute number that very rarely exists in these situations. There is a reason why paramedics keep trying even when they know there is only like a 0.000001% chance their efforts will work ...they have to face their own sanity and psyche later....that they did not just let the odds dictate their response. Not trying at all, in whatever way you can, just makes the impact of defeat all the more crushing at a later date psychologically and emotionally....because you start to question yourself in really jarring ways.
Where is that verse from?
The top one (How can a man die better) is from the Lays of Ancient Rome
Lays of Ancient Rome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Definitely recommended reading if you like such sort of literature (like me).
I will never forget reading the Iliad for the first time in unadulterated/unshortened fashion which the lays of rome is heavily influenced by.
