To those knocking this, I hope you or yours never need this kind of help in an emergency situation.
This is another example of the excellent work that the AT/SAR crews and supporting staff do day in day out both at home and abroad. Well done to all involved.
I am fairly sure that had an alternative been available it would have been used. As BEagle suggests it probably fits in as a useful training flight.
As to the cost, who cares, the most important thing is that a life was saved. Let the bean counters fight it out at their leisure.