Rescue attempts in Antarctic hampered by ice and foul weather
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It can be lonely stranded in one of the coldest and remotest places on earth. The Australian ice-breaker Aurora failed in its rescue mission as the weather closed in around the Russian Ship the Akademik Shokalskiy. The Chinese vessel Snow Dragon couldn’t break through the ice so some of the passengers disembarked and appeared to be dancing on the snow-topped ice.
“We’ve just learned that the Aurora can’t reach us so we’re preparing the helipad by getting the team to stomp down on this snow and ice so that the Chinese helicopter from Snow Dragon can reach us when the weather improves,” explained Chris Turney one of the scientists on board.
But foul weather grounded the helicopter.
The expedition is to celebrate the centenary of an Antarctic journey led by Australian Douglas Mawson.
He witnessed the death of two of his closest aids and had to endure a second year on the ice before being rescued. “The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration” is how one author described it.
It is hoped it will only be a matter of days before the modern day explorers are plucked to safety.
“We’ve just learned that the Aurora can’t reach us so we’re preparing the helipad by getting the team to stomp down on this snow and ice so that the Chinese helicopter from Snow Dragon can reach us when the weather improves,” explained Chris Turney one of the scientists on board.
But foul weather grounded the helicopter.
The expedition is to celebrate the centenary of an Antarctic journey led by Australian Douglas Mawson.
He witnessed the death of two of his closest aids and had to endure a second year on the ice before being rescued. “The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration” is how one author described it.
It is hoped it will only be a matter of days before the modern day explorers are plucked to safety.