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The researchers are supposed to staying at the Sanae IV base for 10 months to study the effects of climate change and the environment in the -50°C weather.
However, one of the explorers has detailed chilling claims that they were ‘physically assaulted’ by a male colleague, which has made them ‘deeply concerned about my own safety’.
“I am experiencing significant difficulty in feeling secure in his presence,” an email obtained by South Africa’s Sunday Times read.
A scientist in the base is fearing for their safety (South Africa National Antarctic Programme)
Now, as reported by The Times, a professional explorer who conducted a 700 mile expedition in the South Pole last year has warned of what can happen from a ‘psychological perspective’.
“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,” Alan Chambers explained.
“What I think it does, from a psychological point of view, is that 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.
“The loneliness of the continent has a huge impact on the behaviour of individuals.
“You really have to be happy with yourself because in the Arctic or the Antarctic you spend a lot of time inside your mind.
“So if you have a small issue with somebody or something, it can become magnified into a large problem.”
Chambers added: “The weather is so cold in winter that nobody is allowed to go outside of the research station — even just for fresh air.
A professional explorer has warned what can happen out there (South Africa National Antarctic Programme)
“They are imprisoned by choice and so relationships and behaviours become really really important.
“So I’m not surprised that somebody is really struggling out there.
“If it’s at all possible, that person needs to be removed as soon as possible for their safety, the team’s safety and for the sake of any ongoing research.”
Dion George, South Africa’s environment minister, has since addressed the situation involving the unnamed accuser.
“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 said.
The minister acknowledged that ‘you can imagine’ how ‘disorientating’ it can be not communicating with the outside world for so long.
