A helicopter pilot is in a critical condition after he fell 20 metres down an Antarctic crevasse on Monday evening.
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The pilot was one of two flying solo in individual helicopters, transporting fuel to a depot around 90 nautical miles north east of Davis Station.
After dropping the fuel drums at the depot, one of the pilots was disembarking his helicopter when he fell down the crevasse.Unable to rescue the pilot alone, the second pilot made radio contact with Davis Station, before returning to the station for backup assistance.
A spokesperson for the Australian Antarctic Division said the pilot, who has not been named, was down the crevasse for around two to three hours.
"Working in Antarctica is always very dangerous. Also in this area, [it is] a very remote part."Three specialist field training officers attended the pilot in the crevasse on the West Ice Shelf. After securing the pilot in the crevasse, they managed to winch him to safety in what was described as a "difficult rescue."
The pilot was flown to the Antarctic Divisions Davis Station medical facility, where he remains in a critical condition.
"He is in the best possible care. We are now assessing what we need to do in terms of providing additional medical support and options for aero-medical evacuation," a spokesperson said.
"We are not able to give any information or any further details of the nature or extent of the injuries."
He added that the medical facility at Davis Station has "extensive medical equipment...for a wide range of conditions."
When incidents such as this happen in Antarctica, all national Antarctic programs work collaboratively together to determine who is best able to assist.
"Several countries in the area have been contacted, [but] we are preparing our Wilkins runway at Davis Station for a flight as soon as possible. We'll cover a broad range of options."
According to the Department of Environment Australian Antarctic Division the pilot has considerable Antarctic experience.