“Environment Of Fear”: Isolated Scientists In Antarctica Plead For Rescue After Alleged Death Threats And Assault

Nine researchers are currently in the South African-run SANAE IV research base, over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) south of the country in Vesleskarvet, Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. The team are expected to stay there for a typical stay of 13 months, conducting research in the icy landscape, before being returned when weather conditions allow it.

During this time, they are pretty much cut off from the rest of the world. While this isolation may seem attractive, with many applying for jobs in Antarctica, it is pretty troublesome when problems arise on the continent. Earlier this month, South Africa’s Sunday Times reported that one member of the SANAE IV research base sent an email alleging that there is an “environment of fear” at the base after “deeply disturbing behaviour” from one colleague.

“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 email said, per The Guardian.

“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.”

The alleged incident reportedly arose after a dispute about a weather-dependent task, which required a schedule change. The team is not due to leave Antarctica until December, though the email demanded immediate action given the circumstances.

Since the email was sent last week, investigations into the allegations have begun, while the alleged perpetrator has reportedly shown remorse and voluntarily undergone psychological evaluation.

Crime in Antarctica is relatively rare, given the lack of humans to commit crimes against and the lack of legislation against penguins that can be used to punish them for their terrible crimes.

However, with the extreme monotony and isolation of life at research stations on the continent, there have been a few other incidents. This includes one in 1984, when one member of an Argentine research team burned down their research station as the final supply ship of the year was leaving so that he didn’t have to stay for the winter, and a hammer fight between staff at a US base in 1996. 

One infamous (and likely legendary) incident between two Soviet scientists ended with the whole research station being banned from chess, according to several sources. According to the story, at Russia’s Vostok station in 1959, a scientist “became unhinged after losing a game of chess, and murdered his opponent with an axe”. According to some sources, this resulted in the Soviet Union (and later Russia) banning the game from taking place in Antarctica or space due to similar levels of isolation.

Though it’s a story believed by some who work at research stations, it does have the ring of an urban legend. Details of the incident are scarce, and in some versions, the victim is injured rather than dies. It’s also not the case that chess has been banned in space, with one game famously being played between a Russian astronaut and “representatives of Earth” on the ground over the radio. The game ended in a draw, but with zero stabbings, we can chalk that up as a success.

In 2018, a similar incident was reported by the media, where 55-year-old electrical engineer Sergei Savitsky stabbed 52-year-old welder Oleg Beloguzov at the Bellingshausen research station. According to tabloids at the time, the incident happened after Beloguzov repeatedly spoiled the endings of books that Savitsky was reading before he had time to finish them. This had the ring of an urban legend too, and though an incident did take place, the details about book spoilers turned out to be unverified and likely false. Savitsky had mental health problems, with AP citing only “tensions in a confined space” rather than “he said who dies at the end of Wuthering Heights“.

While an amusing story/cautionary tale about the effects of isolation, the lack of details on the chess story – as well as news reports from the time – makes us think this is likely an embellishment of an incident, if not a straight-up urban legend. The story appears to have been first mentioned sometime in the 1980s, according to chess enthusiasts turned sleuths at the Chess Stack Exchange.

Far from staying away from the game, a five-month chess championship took place between Soviet explorers in Antarctica in 1978. This seems unlikely if, just a few decades earlier, chess was banned because of all the murder.

It is unclear what the options are for dealing with the current situation further, with the base generally being accessed in the summer months via an ice-breaking ship. Investigations continue.