Antarctica joint task force medevacs two

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  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  Thirteenth Air Force's Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica Operation Deep Freeze took on an emergency short notice mission late on Dec. 23 (Antarctica time) to medevac two patients: a 74-year-old female passenger from the Russian cruise ship Kapitan Klebnikov, and a seriously ill resident of McMurdo requiring blood transfusions.

The Swiss passenger suffered a broken leg, and the ship's helicopter transported her to McMurdo Station. At McMurdo Station both patients were put on a New York Air National Guard LC-130 by National Science Foundation and JTF-SFA medical personnel
and flown to Christchurch, New Zealand, for medical treatment.

The crews and personnel are part of the U.S. Air Force-led joint task force conducting Operation Deep Freeze, a mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program since 1955.

"The situation arose, and both patients needed immediate assistance. We're here supporting the United States Antarctic Program, and maintain alert crew capability to transport patients to medical facilities in Christchurch on a couple hours' notice," said Colonel Ron Smith, deputy commander, JTF-SFA Operation Deep Freeze.

"We're glad to assist, as this is part of what the military does. The JTF under Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, also the 13th Air Force commander, stands ready year round for this very reason. If someone gets into serious medical complications involving a life or death scenario, the NSF knows they can count on us."

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