AFTER two failed attempts, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Orion has evacuated a seriously ill American man from Antarctica and is heading back to Christchurch.
The aircraft, carrying a crew of 12 and three medical staff, landed at the US McMurdo Station science base on the north Antarctic coast and rescued the man, whose condition and identity remained undisclosed.
The Orion aircraft refuelled before embarking on a six-hour return mission just after 2pm (12pm AEST), RNZAF squadron leader Kavae Tamariki said.
"It was a pretty good turnaround actually; they were only on the ice for about an hour-and-a-quarter," he said.
The Orion was due to arrive in New Zealand at about 9.05pm (11.05pm AEST) where the man will be taken by ambulance to Christchurch Hospital, Antarctic New Zealand spokesman Matt Vance said.
Raytheon Polar Services runs the Antarctic station for the US National Science Foundation.
Its New Zealand operations manager Kerry Chuck said the man was suffering from an illness rather than an injury and it was believed his condition had not changed since the initial evacuation request was made last Friday, despite the weather-imposed delays.
"The medical advice is to get him out of there as soon as possible for hospital care," Mr Chuck said.
A plane bound for Antarctica on Saturday was forced to turn back a few hours later after receiving reports of blizzards at McMurdo Station.
Sunday's efforts were stalled because of strong winds.
In temperatures hovering around -35C, the plane left McMurdo at 2.14pm (12.14pm AEST).
news.com.au
Its New Zealand operations manager Kerry Chuck said the man was suffering from an illness rather than an injury and it was believed his condition had not changed since the initial evacuation request was made last Friday, despite the weather-imposed delays.
"The medical advice is to get him out of there as soon as possible for hospital care," Mr Chuck said.
A plane bound for Antarctica on Saturday was forced to turn back a few hours later after receiving reports of blizzards at McMurdo Station.
Sunday's efforts were stalled because of strong winds.
In temperatures hovering around -35C, the plane left McMurdo at 2.14pm (12.14pm AEST).
news.com.au
