Antarctic scientists plead for help after ‘sexual assault and threats' by colleague

Telegraph

17-03-2025

Scientists trapped in a remote Antarctic research station have called for urgent help after a colleague was accused of sexual assault and threatening to kill a team member.
At least one member of the South African delegation has requested 'immediate action' amid allegations the unnamed man physically assaulted and threatened to kill one colleague, and sexually assaulted another.
The 10-person team is trapped at the base by encroaching ice and weather as the southern hemisphere winter sets in at the remote Sanae IV base on a cliff edge about 105 miles inland from the ice shelf.
Teams overwintering at the base are typically cut off for 10 months at a time.
Sources told South Africa's Sunday Times that the only way to leave the base now was via emergency medical evacuation to a neighbouring German base about 190 miles away.
An email sent last month to government officials warned of the alleged situation in the base and left officials scrambling to try to defuse tensions.
South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, which manages the country's Antarctic research programme, said it was 'responding to these concerns with the utmost urgency and have had a number of interventions with all parties concerned at the base'.
'A full investigation is being commissioned and the department will act accordingly in relation to any wrong conduct against any official that has misconducted themselves.'
'Behaviour increasingly egregious'
The warning email from an unnamed member of staff alleged a colleague's behaviour had become 'increasingly egregious, and I am experiencing significant difficulty in feeling secure in his presence'.
'It is imperative that immediate action is taken to ensure my safety and the safety of all employees.
The email went on: 'Regrettably, [his] behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply disturbing. Specifically, he physically assaulted [name withheld], which is a grave violation of personal safety and workplace norms.
'Furthermore, he threatened to kill [name withheld], 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 email claimed 'numerous concerns' were raised about the man's conduct by the overwintering team before the SA Agulhas II ice-breaking research ship departed for the season and left them stranded.
A source told the paper: 'They were informed of the situation [at Sanae IV] well in advance – way before the season closed .... Now there's nothing they can do as there are no planes or ships going to or leaving Antarctica.'
'They had all the time to remedy the situation but they simply buried their heads in the sand hoping that it'll go away. They were informed about the problem as early as December.'
The alleged incidents have also raised questions about whether the team members were sufficiently psychologically screened to ensure they could endure the mental rigours of an Antarctic winter.
This is not the first time South Africa's Antarctic research programme has encountered personnel problems.
In 2017 a team member at Marion Island was accused of attacking a colleague with a frying pan in the kitchen, then trashing his room with an axe.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said it was monitoring the situation on a near daily basis and the team was being 'reassessed' by the expert who had originally given them psychometric tests.
The team were also being given help with 'conflict resolution strategies, interpersonal skills improvement as well as overall counselling and support'.