A ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules from 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron taxis at Williams Field, a compacted snow ice runway at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, on Jan. 31, 2023. (RJ Stratchko/U.S. Navy)
An LC-130 Hercules “ski-bird” recently flew a heart attack victim from Antarctica to New Zealand for medical treatment, Pacific Air Forces announced this week.
A civilian logistics specialist suffered a myocardial infarction Feb. 13 while participating in Operation Deep Freeze, the command said Monday in a news release.
PACAF did not identify the unit involved, but the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Air Wing flies LC-130s – ski-equipped versions of Lockheed Martin’s long-serving cargo planes – between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station and other locations in Antarctica for the mission.
The heart-attack victim is an experienced logistics specialist and 20-mission veteran contractor of Operation Deep Freeze, the PACAF news release said.
First responders arrived almost immediately after the victim collapsed in a galley, according to the release.
“After 40 minutes of intense efforts, the patient stabilized and was provided aero-medical evacuation via a LC-130 to Christchurch, New Zealand, for elevated cardiac care shortly thereafter,” the news release states. “The patient was discharged a week later and is now recovering at home.”
The partnership between the National Science Foundation and the military was key to ensuring rapid medical care and evacuation of the patient, Maj. Thomas Powell, McMurdo Station flight surgeon, said in the release.
“This was a win through teamwork and rapid emergency response with a very experienced team, both military and civilian, who worked to ensure the situation was handled well,” he said.
The foundation, PACAF and the 109th did not respond Wednesday and Thursday to emailed questions.
Four hundred airmen were slated to join the Department of Defense’s annual mission in support of the foundation’s Antarctic program from October through February, according to the airlift wing in October.
PACAF commander Gen. Kevin Schneider and his senior enlisted adviser, Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, recently toured units with Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica on the frozen continent and in Christchurch, according to a PACAF news release Tuesday. It did not specify the date of Schneider and McCool’s visit.
The task force coordinates strategic airlift, tactical deep field support, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, sealift, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation.
“Whether it’s on the ground in Antarctica or in a high stakes combat scenario, we’re building relationships that ensure we’re prepared for anything,” Schneider said in the release.
The partnership ensures that both the U.S. and New Zealand forces are prepared for a wide range of contingencies, from humanitarian aid to responding to military threats, according to the release.
