A member of a team of scientists working at a remote Antarctic research station allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill a colleague after arguing over work schedules.
The terrifying threats led to one of the nine South African researchers sending a desperate email pleading to be rescued from the Sanae IV base, positioned on the northern tip of Antarctica. The unidentified author claimed that a man had attacked them and was also accused of sexual harassment and made threats to kill.
In a message that was shared with South Africa’s Sunday Times, the frightened researcher wrote: “Specifically, he physically assaulted [X], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms,” before adding, “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.”
They said that the accused’s behaviour had become “increasingly egregious”, and that, “It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.”
A South African government official has since confirmed that the team member’s threatening behaviour was sparked by “a dispute over a task the team leader wanted the team to do – a weather-dependant task that required a schedule change”.
While South Africa’s environment minister Dion George plans to speak to the scientists. He 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 noted that researchers undergo psychometric evaluation before they are allowed to go to the base due to the extreme conditions. In addition, he said that an initial investigation found that the accused man had no “dangerous intentions”.
However, he confirmed that South African authorities had contacted Norway and Germany, who have bases nearest to Sanae IV, “in the event that we need to do an urgent intervention”. The near impossible conditions in such isolated locations can be treacherous for people out there.
Explorer Alan Chambers, who carried out a 700-mile skiing expedition to the South Pole, spoke to The Times about the psychological impact an loneliness of these types of ventures. He said: “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. What I think it does, from a psychological point of view, is that everything becomes heightened.”
He went on to note that everyday normality can be skewed thanks to the sheer whiteness of the location. “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,” Mr Chambers said.
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