South African scientists trapped in Antarctica with violent team member plead for help
A group of South African scientist are due to be in Antarctica until December, but their mission has gone awry.
FILE: The South African National Antarctic Expedition research base, SANAE IV, at Vesleskarvet, Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. Picture: Dr Ross Hofmeyr, Wildmedic (talk) 14:41, 17 August 2008 (UTC) via Wikimedia Commons
Saskia Falken Hickey (in for CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford) speaks with Barbara Friedman about this and other stories trending online.
Listen below:
Over 4,000km from home, a group of South African researchers at the Sanae IV research station in Antarctica are calling for help after one of them allegedly attacked and threatened to kill another.
He has also been accused of sexually assaulting a team member.
The group was supposed to be at the base until December to study the climate. They are completely cut off from the rest of the world due to weather conditions.
“They do psychometric testing like if you go into space. You have got to have people that won’t fly off the deep end.”
- Barbara Friedman
The average winter temperature at the base is minus 23 degrees Celsius and wind speeds can reach 135 mph (217 km/h).
This weather makes it impossible to leave the base.
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Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Dion George confirmed the assault took place and says they are looking into options.
“I don’t know what they are going to do!”
- Barbara Friedman
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.