An urgent operation has been initiated by Australia to rescue a researcher facing a "developing medical condition" from the remote Casey outpost in Antarctica.

The Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) has confirmed that the icebreaker RSV Nuyina departed from Tasmania last week for this mission. Due to harsh conditions, an aerial rescue was deemed unfeasible.

The AAP has disclosed that the researcher in question is Australian and requires specialized medical treatment, although the specific condition remains undisclosed. Preparing the Nuyina for this undertaking, including outfitting it with helicopters, has taken several weeks.

Casey Research Station is situated approximately 2,139 miles (3,443km) from Hobart in Tasmania and is one of three permanent Antarctic stations managed by the AAP.

The Nuyina, which had a construction cost of A$528 million ($342 million; £271 million), boasts a maximum speed of 16 knots, equivalent to around 18 miles per hour, translating to a journey spanning multiple days.

An airborne evacuation was not a viable option due to the impracticality of utilizing the nearby Wilkins Aerodrome near Casey during the harsh winter months. Reports suggest that the ice runway at the aerodrome necessitates weeks of preparation before use, making sending the icebreaker a much quicker alternative.

The research station has limited medical facilities, and the population during the winter months, when conditions are at their harshest, typically consists of only around 20 individuals. A spokesperson for the AAP emphasized that the "well-being of our people is our highest priority."

"The expedition's family is being kept fully informed of the situation," it added. "All other personnel on stations are accounted for and safe."

Australia requires all researchers sent to Antarctica to undergo lengthy medical examinations before deployment.

Evacuations from one of the most inhospitable areas of the planet are often complex, expensive, fraught with danger, and can require assistance from international partners.

In December 2020, Australia needed help from the US and China to evacuate an expedition.

Earlier the same year, an Australian Airbus A319 was sent to McMurdo station to evacuate an unwell American.

That is a very good arrangement.

Good

Better