Sick woman evacuated from Pole at last
Source: Agencies |
October 18, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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A WOMAN stranded at a South Pole research station for weeks after suffering an apparent stroke was evacuated by air yesterday to a hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Renee-Nicole Douceur, 58, a US citizen, said in a telephone interview: "I am feeling elated now that I am in Christchurch waiting for my diagnostic testing. We are finally going to find out what has happened and where we go from here."
Douceur suffered what is believed to have been a stroke in August, leaving her with speech and vision problems.
Doctors at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a US research facility where she worked as a manager, recommended an emergency evacuation because they did not have advanced diagnostic equipment.
But Raytheon Polar Services, which manages the facility for the National Science Foundation, and the foundation said severe weather at the pole would make an immediate evacuation too dangerous.
Douceur said: "I had thought originally that the company and the foundation would have basically taken care of any individual and not made hasty decisions even while I was still in the clinic with brain swelling.
"However, I totally understand about the logistics and dangers of having an air crew in here. I would never have an air crew come in to rescue my life if it would put them in danger."
Douceur's family were pushing for an earlier evacuation, but in the event Douceur had to wait until yesterday's scheduled cargo flight before she could leave the station.
Renee-Nicole Douceur, 58, a US citizen, said in a telephone interview: "I am feeling elated now that I am in Christchurch waiting for my diagnostic testing. We are finally going to find out what has happened and where we go from here."
Douceur suffered what is believed to have been a stroke in August, leaving her with speech and vision problems.
Doctors at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a US research facility where she worked as a manager, recommended an emergency evacuation because they did not have advanced diagnostic equipment.
But Raytheon Polar Services, which manages the facility for the National Science Foundation, and the foundation said severe weather at the pole would make an immediate evacuation too dangerous.
Douceur said: "I had thought originally that the company and the foundation would have basically taken care of any individual and not made hasty decisions even while I was still in the clinic with brain swelling.
"However, I totally understand about the logistics and dangers of having an air crew in here. I would never have an air crew come in to rescue my life if it would put them in danger."
Douceur's family were pushing for an earlier evacuation, but in the event Douceur had to wait until yesterday's scheduled cargo flight before she could leave the station.
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