From: BS@tutanato.com   
      
   A team of South African scientists has pleaded for help after one of its   
   members grew mentally unstable and violent   
   Researcher at isolated Antarctic base ‘assaulted and threatened to kill’   
   colleague   
   FILE PHOTO. The Sanae IV station. ©  Wikipedia / Dr Ross Hofmeyr   
   A team of South African scientists holed up at a remote Antarctic   
   research station has called for “immediate action” after one team member   
   allegedly physically assaulted and threatened to kill a colleague.   
      
   The Sanae IV station is located some 80 kilometers inland and sits at a   
   mountain summit protruding from a glacier and is completely surrounded   
   by glacial fields. The ten-member research team is set to spend at least   
   ten more months at what could be described as a classic horror movie   
   setting. The base is nearly inaccessible in winter due to extreme   
   weather and movement of floating ice.   
      
   The affair was first reported over the weekend by South Africa’s Sunday   
   Times, which published an email sent by one of the researchers from the   
   base. The newspaper withheld the names of both the allegedly unruly team   
   member and his accuser, who demanded “immediate action” from the   
   authorities.   
      
   The accuser also noted that “numerous concerns” had been raised about   
   the alleged attacker before the departure of the icebreaking polar   
   supply and research ship that dropped the overwintering team off last   
   December and sailed away a month later.   
      
   “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,” the letter   
   reads.   
      
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   “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,” it   
   added.   
      
   The country’s authorities have acknowledged the issue, with Environment   
   Minister Dion George pledging to personally address it with the team   
   members. George, however, appeared to downplay the severity of the   
   situation.   
      
   “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 as quoted by the Sunday Times. “You can imagine what   
   it’s like, it is close quarters and people do get cabin fever. It can be   
   very disorientating.”   
      
   In a separate commentary, the minister said he was “considering options”   
   to address the situation without elaborating on what exactly. “An   
   intervention is in place. The person who assaulted the team leader is   
   remorseful and has been psychologically re-evaluated willingly,” he said   
   as quoted by The Guardian, revealing the violent outburst was prompted   
   by an unspecified “weather dependent task that required a schedule change.”   
      
   https://www.rt.com/news/614359-antarctic-research-base-violence/   
      
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