MCMURDO STATION, Antarctica – Using teamwork, precision and lifesaving expertise, Airmen of the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 187th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron played a critical role in the first successful evacuation of a patient in cardiac arrest from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in more than 35 years.
The patient, a U.S. civilian contractor and veteran of more than 20 Operation Deep Freeze missions, had a massive heart attack at McMurdo Station. The station, a key hub for the U.S. Antarctic Program, is home to more than 500 personnel during the harsh winter months when flights in or out are nearly impossible.
Temperatures had hovered near minus 35 degrees Celsius (minus 31 degrees Fahrenheit), and severe blizzards had thwarted a prior rescue attempt.
Race Against Time
The emergency began when the patient, about 60, collapsed in the station’s galley. Medical professionals from McMurdo’s fire department, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Air Force responded instantly, finding the man in cardiac arrest caused by a “widow maker” heart attack from a complete blockage of the left anterior descending artery.
First responders initiated CPR and delivered multiple defibrillator shocks on the way to the station clinic. After nearly 40 minutes of intensive efforts, including CPR, epinephrine injections and eight defibrillation shocks, the team stabilized the patient and began planning an immediate medical evacuation.
“This was a truly remarkable case,” said Maj. Nate Krueger, flight nurse with the Wyoming Air National Guard. “From the moment of collapse to the successful evacuation, every step was executed with precision and urgency. The coordination between emergency responders, the clinic team and the flight crew made all the difference.”
A Dangerous Flight, A Life Saved
Krueger and Master Sgt. Lyndsey Glotfelty, an aeromedical technician with the 187th AES, were deployed to support Operation Deep Freeze, which is the U.S. military’s logistical mission in Antarctica since 1955. They led the patient’s stabilization and transport efforts.
The airlift was no routine mission in a place where help is measured not in minutes, but miles and hours. A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft carrying additional medical staff landed on McMurdo’s icy runway during a brief daylight window. Following about 90 minutes on the ground, a U.S. Air Force LC-130 flew the patient 2,500 miles to Christchurch, New Zealand, on a seven-hour flight across one of the world’s most unforgiving terrains.
Upon arrival, the patient was rushed to a hospital catheterization lab where two stents were placed to reopen his arteries. The ordeal lasted about 12 hours from collapse to advanced cardiac care, and ended with the patient walking out of the hospital days later.
An Unmatched Partnership
“This was a win through teamwork and rapid emergency response,” said Maj. Thomas Powell, McMurdo Station flight surgeon. “Having a robust cooperative partnership between the National Science Foundation and the military was key to ensuring rapid medical care and evacuation of the patient.”
The success of this mission highlights the strength of the longstanding partnership between the U.S. military and the National Science Foundation in supporting scientific operations in Antarctica. It also underscores the critical importance of readiness and training in environments where help is hours or days away.
“This was more than a mission — it was a life saved against all odds,” said Brig. Gen. Michelle Mulberry, Director of Joint Staff for the Wyoming National Guard. “What our Airmen and their teammates accomplished is extraordinary. The 187 AES embodied what it means to be Citizen-Airmen — bringing compassion and expert care to one of the most remote places on Earth. Great job Krueger and Glotfelty.”