Australia has launched an urgent operation to rescue a researcher with a “developing medical condition” from the remote Casey Research Station (WAP AUS-Ø2) in Antarctica (picture aside).
The icebreaker RSV Nuyina left from Tasmania last week, the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) said. It is travelling thousands of miles to reach the Research Station after an air rescue was ruled out due to harsh conditions. The AAP said the researcher, an Australian, needs specialist treatment but did not name the condition.
Casey research station is a journey of 2,139 miles (3,443km) from Hobart in Tasmania and one of three permanent Antarctic stations run by the AAP
The, has a top speed of 16 knots, or around 18 miles an hour, meaning a journey of several days. It is understood that an evacuation by air was not possible; the nearby (WAP AUS-Ø5) Wilkins Station’s aerodrome near Casey has an ice runway but is often unusable during the harsh winter.
Read more at: Australia launches mission to rescue Antarctic researcher – BBC News
Thanks and credit to: BBC News.