An American working at the U.S. McMurdo Station in Antarctica has been evacuated for emergency medical treatment and admitted to a hospital in New Zealand. Officials confirmed the individual was transported on July 31, during the harsh Antarctic winter.
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which manages the U.S. Antarctic Program, requested assistance from the Australian Antarctic Division and the New Zealand Defense Force for the medical evacuation. The operation was carried out under dangerous conditions, with temperatures reported to be as low as -43°C (−45.4°F).
An aircraft from Australia, operated by aviation partner Skytraders, made a five-hour journey from Hobart to McMurdo Station in complete darkness. The crew transferred the patient onto the plane and flew to Christchurch, New Zealand. The expeditioner was admitted to Christchurch Hospital in serious condition. No further details about the individual have been released.
The NSF expressed gratitude to the first responders for their emergency medical care and to its Australian and New Zealand partners for their life-saving transportation support during the challenging winter conditions.