Danish Santa Paid for Reindeer's Death

MorganGrayson · 09-29-2005

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - The Danish Air Force said Thursday it paid about $5,000 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 at the farm of Olavi Nikkanoff in central Denmark when the screaming F-16 jets passed overhead at low altitude in 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," air force spokesman Capt. Morten Jensen said. The air force checked flight data and veterinary reports and concluded the planes had caused the animal's death.
Nikkanoff said he would use the money to buy a new reindeer before Christmas.

If we might all pull it together for a moment and get the mental images of a pissed of Santa out of our heads...I wish I could say the US Air Force would have responded with such compassion and admission of responsibility.

09-29-2005	#1
MorganGrayson None $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,321	Danish Santa Paid for Reindeer's Death COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - The Danish Air Force said Thursday it paid about $5,000 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 at the farm of Olavi Nikkanoff in central Denmark when the screaming F-16 jets passed overhead at low altitude in 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," air force spokesman Capt. Morten Jensen said. The air force checked flight data and veterinary reports and concluded the planes had caused the animal's death. Nikkanoff said he would use the money to buy a new reindeer before Christmas. If we might all pull it together for a moment and get the mental images of a pissed of Santa out of our heads...I wish I could say the US Air Force would have responded with such compassion and admission of responsibility.