Australia has launched an emergency rescue operation to repatriate a sick researcher to Antarctica.
An icebreaker has left Tasmania’s capital Horbat to travel to Casey Station in Antarctica, a journey of more than 3,400 kilometers, the BBC reports.
According to the Australian Antarctic Program, the researcher in question is reportedly suffering from “medical complications.”
The authority did not provide any further information about the nature of this illness.
Evacuation by air was considered, but due to difficult weather conditions, boat was preferred.
The icebreaker was prepared for several weeks before leaving the port of Horbat.
Evacuations in this very remote region are often complex and sometimes require the support of international partners.
In December 2020, Australia needed help from the US and China to evacuate a person participating in an expedition.