AntarcticDoctor

REUTERS:- Sources reporting from the South African research station in Antarctica, SANAE IV, describe their shock and terror today as expedition leader and doctor Ross Hofmeyr was viciously mauled by a large adult male polar bear.

Expedition members looked on helplessly as the massive rogue bear struck Dr Hofmeyr to the ground and sat on his chest, pinning him to the freezing snow. “It happened so fast,” said one stricken scientist in a telephonic interview, “initially he yelled and tried to wrestle the bear, but then he realised the futility of fighting the behemoth and chose to feign death instead.”

Prospective Antarctic research and support personnel are frequently warned by concerned relatives and friends of the danger of polar bears in the Antarctic, but most believe that they will be safe from attack. Documented Antarctic polar bear attacks are few, and often linked to some form of substance abuse. However, in an area renowned as one of the world’s last great wildernesses, it is clear that calumny awaits the uninformed. Fortunately for Dr Hofmeyr, the bear quickly lost interest, and he was able to escape with non-fatal injuries.

Please be warned that the photographs of the incident, below, are graphic and may upset sensitive readers.

Asked for comment while recovering in the medical facility at SANAE IV after a strong dose of 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, Dr Hofmeyr responded:

“HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!”

He further suggested that anyone taken in by the story consult http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear, especially with reference to the natural distribution of the polar bear.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 12:01 am and is filed under Antarctic Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.