Vic: Victorian man awaits rescue after ice fall in Antarctica

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2001
Vic: Victorian man awaits rescue after ice fall in Antarctica

A Victorian man attempting a world-first crossing of Antarctica has been injured in
an ice fall just eight kilometres from the end of his voyage.

PETER BLAND, from New Gisborne, north-west of Melbourne, is believed to be in a stable
condition after the fall on Wednesday, but the full extent of his injuries is not yet
known.

Attempts to airlift Mr BLAND to safety by a Chilean helicopter have been hampered by bad weather.

Mr BLAND'S wife, JULIA, says her husband began his trek across Antarctica four weeks
ago and was due to be picked up by the yacht Tooluka today.

She says Mr BLAND and his partner JAY WATSON were kyaking and walking across the continent
when her husband was involved in an icefall about eight kilometres inland.





He was also injured in 1996 when he sailed to the Australian base, Mawson's Hut, from
Tasmania and almost burst his aorta while trying to free rope that had become tangled
around his yacht's rudder.

Mr BLAND was also the first Australian to trek to the magnetic north pole.

AAP RTV ce/imc/jx/alt

KEYWORD: EXPLORER (MELBOURNE)

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