Australian Antarctic expeditioner being evacuated due to medical condition with international help

A complex operation to evacuate an unwell Australian Antarctic expeditioner is underway with the help of the Chinese and Americans.

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SHIPS, helicopters and planes covering thousands of kilometres across Antarctica are being used by three different counties in an effort to evacuate an Australian expeditioner.

Currently at Davis research station, the expeditioner will be evacuated due to a medical condition, which was only said to not be COVID-19 related.

The medevac effort will involve the Australian, United States and Chinese Antarctic programs.

From Kingston, Australian Antarctic Division director Kim Ellis said operations were underway to evacuate the patient.

CHINARE Helicopter Augusta Westland 169. Picture: POLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHINA

“The Chinese icebreaker MV Xue Long 2 is on its way to the Chinese station and will stop at Davis, so we can use the ship’s helicopters to help transfer the patient to a ski-way inland of the station,” he said.

“A United States ski-equipped Basler aircraft will then fly 2200 kilometres from the US station McMurdo to Australia’s Wilkins Aerodrome, near Casey Station, where it will pick up an Australian doctor.

“The plane will then fly on to Davis station, a 2800 kilometre round trip, to pick up the patient and return to Wilkins Aerodrome.”

The next phase of the complex operation is weather-dependent, with the expeditioner to be transferred either to Australia’s Airbus A319 and flown back to Hobart or, if the ice temperatures are not cold enough for a plane to land, they will return by ship in January.

Australian Antarctic Division director Kim Ellis.

“The operation is particularly difficult due to COVID-19 precautions, availability of weather windows and the lead times required to prepare both the Davis ski-way and the ice runway at Wilkins,” Mr Ellis said.

“This operation is a testament to the strong international co-operation that exists in Antarctica, where nations band together and support each other in what can be a hostile and challenging environment.”

Mr Ellis said the crews on both the United States and Chinese aircraft have undergone a period of quarantine before reaching Antarctica and will maintain a social distance during the operation and undertake a deep clean of the aircraft.