Australian Antarctic Division
The Australian Antarctic Division has successfully completed a complex and challenging medical evacuation of an Australian expeditioner from Antarctica.
The medevac was a multinational effort involving the Australian, United States and Chinese Antarctic Programs, using a logistical network of ships, helicopters and planes covering thousands of kilometres in east Antarctica.
AAD 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,” Mr Ellis said.
“We’ve been doing these medevacs for a long time, but this particular operation was in the very best spirit of that multinational cooperation.”
Australian Antarctic Division
A team of Australian Antarctic expeditioners will soon start to prepare an ice runway for a medevac at Davis research station.
Later today, weather permitting, a team of five including a field-training officer and plant operators will be flown by helicopter from Davis station to a ski landing area, on the ice plateau behind station.
Australian and Chinese flags flying at Davis research station Photo: AAD
Australian Antarctic Division Director, Kim Ellis, said helicopters from the nearby Chinese ship the MV Xue Long 2 will be used in the operation.
“This is the first step in a multi-stage medevac involving the Australian, United States and Chinese Antarctic Programs,” Mr Ellis said.