Terrified scientists in a remote Antarctic base are pleading to be rescued after a member of the team allegedly attacked and threatened to kill another.
The South African researchers are on their own, with just the wide open space and wild animals, when they go to the Sanae IV base for more than 10 months at a time. They rely on a strong team bond as they have to endure extreme weather and being thousands of miles from civilization. But in a worrying scenario which sounds like a script for a Hollywood blockbuster, one of the researchers has written to a paper to say they are now living in fear.
The author claimed that a man had attacked them, was also accused of sexual assault and made threats to kill. “Regrettably, his behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing.
“Specifically, he physically assaulted [X], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms,” a researcher wrote in a message to the South Africa’s Sunday Times.
“Furthermore, he threatened to kill [X], creating an environment of fear and intimidation. I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim.”
The person went on to say that the accused’s behaviour had become “increasingly egregious”, while it added: “It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.”
And following the allegations, South Africa’s environment minister Dion George plans to speak to the researchers. He reportedly said: “There was a verbal altercation between the team leader and this person.
“Then it escalated and then that person did physically assault the leader. You can imagine what it’s like, it is close quarters and people do get cabin fever. It can be very disorientating.”
Mr George also pointed out that researchers undergo psychometric evaluation before heading out to the base due to the extreme conditions and that an initial investigation found that the accused man didn’t have “dangerous intentions”.
But he added that authorities in South Africa had contacted Norway and Germany who have bases nearest to Sanae IV “in the event that we need to do an urgent intervention”.
Explorer Alan Chambers, who completed a 700-mile skiing expedition to the South Pole, told of the extreme isolation faced by those working in such conditions.
“From a psychological perspective it’s a very very lonely place. There’s very little interaction with humans or animals so if you’re in a camp or a research centre you’re with those people for six months, if not a year,” he told The Times.
“What I think it does, from a psychological point of view, is that everything becomes heightened. It’s all white — there’s no colour, no noise and nothing you would see as normal so everybody’s behaviour — including your own — gets magnified and the little things become the big things.”
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