Scientists on a mission in Antarctica sent a plea for help after a fellow expert assaulted and threatened to assassinate colleagues.
Living in harsh conditions in a remote landscape with freezing temperatures of -58 degrees Fahrenheit (-50 degrees Celsius), the team rarely leaves the base for their own safety.
One of the scientists in a research base in Antarctica sent a worrying mail regarding the team’s safety
On March 16, one of the scientists trapped in a small base in Antarctica sent a worrying email asking to be rescued. The researcher is part of a 10-member South African research team currently working in Sanae IV base, a research station, and is expected to stay there for 10 more months.
The chilling email said that a colleague attacked a member of the team, and the team is now living in fear as the man continued threatening them and was a threat to the group. The team also claimed that the accused had physically assaulted one of the other researchers.
The accused researcher allegedly assaulted and threatened colleagues in the base
According to South Africa’s Sunday Times, the email read: “Regrettably, his behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing.”
“Specifically, he physically assaulted [unnamed researcher], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms. Furthermore, he threatened to k-ll [unnamed researcher], creating an environment of fear and intimidation,” the email continued.
The author of the email said they are “experiencing significant difficulty in feeling secure” in the accused colleague’s presence
The researcher shared his grave concerns and asked for quick action to ensure the team’s safety. The researcher who sent the mail also added, “I remain deeply concerned about my own safety, constantly wondering if I might become the next victim.”
“His behaviour has become increasingly egregious, and I am experiencing significant difficulty in feeling secure in his presence,” the researcher concluded. “It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.”
South Africa’s environment minister said working in Antarctica for long periods “can be very disorientating”
South Africa’s environment minister, Dion George, said he would speak personally with the team to assess the situation.
“There was a verbal altercation between the team leader and this person. Then it escalated and then that person did physically assault the leader,” he explained.
“You can imagine what it’s like. It is close quarters and people do get cabin fever. It can be very disorientating,” he added. George said that researchers are required to undergo a rigorous psychological evaluation to determine their suitability for the mentally demanding environment.
An explorer shared that Antarctica is a “very, very lonely place”
Alan Chambers, an explorer who completed a 700-mile skiing expedition in the region last year, expressed, “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.
“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,” he added.
The harsh conditions of Antarctica take a toll on scientists’ mental well-being
Scientists on research missions in Antarctica face severe isolation and harsh cold. They only have each other for company in the absence of animals, other humans, and society as they know it, while they are in the world’s most secluded continent with no residents.
A 2019 study on winter-over crew members at Antarctic stations highlights the psychological challenges of isolation and confinement. Researchers found that prolonged isolation can lead to loneliness and cognitive impairments, while confinement impacts privacy and overall job satisfaction.
Still, missions require scientists to live in bases there for months to study the environment, climate and Earth’s history.
Online users commented on the disturbing situation in the Antarctica base
