The Danish Air Force said it paid 31,175 kroner ($5,032) in compensation to a part-time Santa Claus whose reindeer died of heart failure when two fighter jets roared over his farm. The animal, named Rudolf*, was grazing peacefully at the farm of Olavi Nikkanoff, when the screaming F-16 jets passed overhead at low altitude in this February. The reindeer collapsed and died, leaving Nikkanoff with the prospect of only one animal pulling his sleigh next Christmas. He complained to the air force, which agreed to compensate him for the cost of the reindeer and veterinary expenses. "We got a letter from Santa complaining about his reindeer’s death and looked into it seriously," said air force spokesman, Capt. Morten Jensen. The air force checked flight data and veterinary reports and concluded the planes likely caused the animal’s death. "We’re more than happy to pay if it means that children around the world will get their presents," Jensen said. Nikkanoff said he was satisfied with the compensation and would use it to buy a new reindeer before Christmas.
*按照西方传说,圣诞老人有一头名叫Rudolf的驯鹿,它拉着雪橇,带圣诞老人到世界各地给孩子们送礼物。
丹麦空军宣称,他们已经赔了31,175克朗(5,032美元)给一名兼职圣诞老人,因为他的驯鹿在两架战斗机轰鸣着飞过他的农场时死于心力衰竭。今年二月,这头名为鲁道夫的驯鹿正在奥拉维·尼卡诺夫的农场里安详地吃草,这时有两架F-16战斗机呼啸着从低空掠过。驯鹿应声而倒,然后一命呜呼。这一来,下个圣诞节尼卡诺夫就只有一头拉雪橇的牲口了。他向丹麦空军提出了申诉,后者同意按价赔鹿并支付兽医费用。空军发言人莫腾·延森上尉说:“我们收到了圣诞老人抱怨驯鹿死亡的信,并对此事进行了认真的调查。”空军方面检查了飞行记录和兽医报告,最终断定有可能是飞机造成了驯鹿的死亡。延森说:“如果世界各地的孩子们因此就能收到礼物的话,我们非常乐意掏钱。”尼卡诺夫说,他对空军的赔偿感到满意,并打算在圣诞之前用这些钱去买一头新的驯鹿。
Remarks:
丹麦空军的态度令人赞赏。不过,今天的圣诞老人,会不会已经改坐波音747或是协和式公务机了呢?
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