An American in the United States Antarctic Program underwent a medical evacuation from U.S. McMurdo Station in Antarctica on July 31 and was admitted to Christchurch Hospital in serious condition. The transfer came during Antarctic winter conditions, when help had to move through darkness and extreme cold.
Hobart to McMurdo Station
The U.S. National Science Foundation requested assistance from the Australian Antarctic Division and the New Zealand Defense Force, and an Australian plane made the five-hour trip from Hobart to McMurdo Station. The plane arrived in complete darkness, then the crew transferred the patient onboard and flew on to Christchurch for emergency medical treatment.
Christchurch Hospital in New Zealand
The Australian Antarctic Division said temperatures dipped as low as −43°C during the operation. That made the evacuation a life-saving operation in the narrow sense of getting one American citizen out of Antarctica and into hospital care, but the public account stops at serious condition and does not describe the injury or illness that led to the flight.
The case shows how dependent McMurdo Station can be on outside support even in the middle of winter. The next point readers will look for is whether Christchurch Hospital issues any further update on the American’s condition after admission.
