Sick Australian expeditioner evacuated from Antarctica
By: Riyaz Ul Khaliq
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Sick Australian expeditioner evacuated from Antarctica
China, US join Australia to airlift stranded expeditioner from world’s coldest place
ANKARA
Australia on Thursday said it successfully evacuated one of its expeditioners from Antarctica who had fallen ill.
The medical evacuation operation -- medevac -- was a joint effort involving the Australian, the US and Chinese Antarctic programs.
“The Australian Antarctic Division has successfully completed a complex and challenging medical evacuation of an Australian expeditioner from Antarctica,” Australian Antarctic Program said in a statement.
The program director Kim Ellis said the five-day operation reflects the “very best of international cooperation in Antarctica.”
“Antarctica really brings nations together to support each other in our operations,” Ellis said, adding: “We’ve been doing these medevacs for a long time, but this particular operation was in the very best spirit of that multinational cooperation.”
The expeditioner was based at Australia’s Davis research station in Antarctica.
Last Sunday night, a team of five with more than 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds) of equipment was flown by a Chinese helicopter to the ski landing area on the ice plateau behind Davis station.
Coincidentally, it was a Chinese icebreaker MV Xue Long 2 which was in transit to Zhongshan station, near Davis research station.
Thus, China joined the operation and the ship’s helicopters were deployed to transfer the team from Davis to a site 40 km (24.8 mi) inland to build a ski-way before transferring the patient out of the world’s coldest place.
Joining the evacuation efforts, a US ski-equipped Basler aircraft flew 2,200 km (1,367 mi) from the US station McMurdo to Australia’s Wilkins Aerodrome from where it picked up an Australian doctor.
According to the Australian program, the US plane then flew to the ski-way near Davis station, in a 2,800-km (1,739 mi) round trip, to transfer the patient to Wilkins Aerodrome.
Later, an Australian Airbus A319 flew from Hobart to Wilkins Aerodrome to pick up the patient, returning to Hobart on the afternoon of Dec. 24.
“We’re extraordinarily grateful to the Chinese and US Antarctic Programs for the fact that they were able to change their operating models and come to our assistance,” Ellis said.
“The synergy of operating capabilities, incredible expertise and a favorable weather window enabled us to bring the patient back from Antarctica to Australia within a week,” he added.
The program clarified that the patient’s medical condition is not related to COVID-19.
However, Antarctica reported first COVID-19 cases early this week.
Infections were identified for the first time at the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme Research Base.
The Chilean army was quoted as saying that 36 Chilean citizens, including 26 soldiers at the base, contracted the novel virus.
The population of the continent is 1,000 in winter and about 5,000 in summer, along with those who work on islands around Antarctica. It has no permanent residents.
The joint operation by Australia, China and the US comes amid frosty bilateral ties between China and Australia, and China and the US.
In latest geopolitical wrangle, China and Australia are experiencing soured bilateral relations with Beijing imposing restrictions on several imports from Australia, while Washington is maintaining its policy of banning Chinese goods.
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Believe it or not, notwithstanding political differences between Australia and China, and America and China, it really IS possible for cooperation between those countries. However, I do find it interesting that the American media did little or no reporting of the event because, I assume, it is contrary to America's bash China for everything policy.
Evening. Yes it is amazing when things go wrong in such an isolated place countries will and do pull together.
Just maybe a tiny glimmer of hope in the Australia and China dust up.
Hope you had a good Christmas and enjoyed the day Buzz.
Thank you America and China, your help is greatly appreciated and has been very well received here.
It was a nice, quiet, Buddhist Christmas day. LOL Hope yours went well.
China, China, China!
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Yes a nice day just with family..my mum brother and sister in-law. We have 2 Christmases, she is from Ukraine...so January 7th is next.
Today is seafood Boxing Day.. crayfish (have to thank you guys for that) prawns scallops barramundi (fish) calamari and salad. Followed by pavlova (a traditional Aussie dessert). Use to have it Christmas Day but we were all to stonked so moved it to Boxing Day. Appreciate it more..
I thought you still celebrated it going to a Hotel over there?? Derr I am a bit slow on the up take..well there goes Christmas, Boxing Day here now...
I ate oysters yesterday. Maybe you're thinking of the expats Thanksgiving Dinner banquet at the hotel - didn't happen this year, but just as well cause it will be a while before I go anywhere crowded notwithstanding we've had no virus problem here for a long time now.
When you say "have to thank you guys for that", keep in mind that you and I are Commonwealth Nations members here on NT, (as our avatars indicate) and I'm a mere expat guest in China.
Anyway, it's approachiing 10 pm and I'm an early sleeper and early riser, so take care....
Morning. No don't look upon you as a mere expat guest. You are a living in China and expect you will have some of their perspectives. No different to when I speak to anyone else who is an expat in any other country I guess.
Yep we will clash on occasions even if we are fellow commonwealth members.. but that is what makes life interesting.. You should see us and the Kiwis when we have a go at each other.
Geez it was nearly WW3 here over the cricket when we bowled under arm years ago. Sleep well.
Possibly a bit of a thaw in the relationship?
Wonderful story.
Yeah, except that it's not easy to thaw in the Antarctic.
Morning Kavika.. nope afraid not. China announced it was banning wood logs from two more States here Christmas Eve..and we have miffed the CCP even more because we have joined naval manoveres with India..a fellow Commonwealth country..
But I did read a very interesting article in the South China Sea news site I think it was. The reporter was blaming the mis understanding of the use and meaning of the English language on China's behalf. Which is partly due to their history and ours.
As most people know and you probably found out we speak and mean things in a very different light. And he maybe right it could be partly the cause. I will get on the computer this morning and see if I can fish it out.
Enjoy your Christmas day and I am trying to go to sleep. Side effects of drugs I am on.. insomnia..it is 1.30am and I am bright eyed and bushy tailed. Hoo roo for now.
Thanks, shona, and I hope that you sleep like a log. (I couldn't resist that one)...
Take care, my friend.
This virus truly is everywhere.
Although the rescued Australian did not have the virus, but some other medical problem, there was a statement in the article that the virus had found its way to Antarctica. It could even be on the moon now.
Anoon buzz..you are right the Aussie does not have the virus. The Chilean base has though...last report I heard over 30 people had the virus. But they are well isolated from all the other bases.
Never thought of the moon lol..hope you had a good sleep...I was awake the entire night and even had a koala grunting and snorting out the front in the gumtree. Not the most restful sound.
No wild animals to keep me awake around here - only cats in heat, and do 'THEY ever scream.