An Australian scientist who became ill in a remote Antarctic outpost has been safely brought back to Australia.
The individual, who has a “developing medical condition” that has not been made public, has been the target of an urgent rescue attempt that began last week.
A medical rescue crew, a large icebreaker ship, and two helicopters were needed for this expedition.
The man has left for Tasmania, where doctors there can give him a thorough examination.
On Monday, the AAP updated the situation, saying that the man had been transported to the icebreaker RSV Nuyina.
Over 1,860 nautical miles were covered by the ship to get to him. On Sunday, the area was judged accessible by two aircraft carrying a medical retrieval team from the Casey research station.
About 20 individuals call the research station home even when conditions are at their worst in the dead of winter, and their access to medical care is severely restricted.
Now that the rescue mission’s initial phase is over, the ship will return to Hobart next week.
According to AAP’s Robb Clifton, “our polar medicine doctors and the medical staff from the Royal Hobart Hospital will care for the expeditioner in the Nuyina’s specially equipped and designed medical facility.”
We must return this explorer to Tasmania as soon as possible so he or she can receive the specialized medical attention they need.
All other station staff are safe and well, the AAP said, and the expeditioner’s family is being kept updated.
Australia mandates comprehensive physicals for all Antarctic researchers before they are sent.
It can be difficult, costly, and dangerous to evacuate people from one of the world’s most hostile regions without the help of international allies.
The Wilkins airport, located near Casey, has an ice runway and is often useless during the harsh winter, therefore it is thought that an air evacuation in this circumstance was not conceivable.
Reports indicate that the runway requires weeks of preparation before it can be used, therefore sending the icebreaker is the most expedient option.
