Antarctic rescue mission launched for American in distress
Weather and light conditions could delay rescue flight
The Associated Press
Posted: Aug 8, 2012 10:13 AM ET
Last Updated: Aug 8, 2012 10:17 AM ET
A view of the Insel Range in Antarctica. A rescue team is heading to the continent to evacuate an American expeditioner. A Lewis/The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences/Associated Press
An Australian rescue team is heading to Antarctica to bring back an American expeditioner experiencing a medical emergency.
The Australian Antarctic Division said Wednesday it is sending a specialist medical team to the U.S. McMurdo research station in Antarctica.
The team will first stop in Christchurch, New Zealand, and wait until weather and light conditions on the frozen continent allow them to land safely. It is winter in Antarctica, and flights are usually only made during the summer.
The Australian agency said they could not provide any more details on the nature of the emergency and directed all queries to the U.S. National Science Foundation. The foundation runs the research station and is co-ordinating the rescue. Officials there did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
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