Buzz Aldrin evacuated from South Pole after falling ill
Aldrin is being flown to New Zealand for treatment
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Buzz Aldrin, the second astronaut to walk on the moon, has been evacuated from the South Pole after becoming ill.
Aldrin, 86, was visiting Antarctica as a tourist when he fell ill. He will be taken to New Zealand for medical treatment, according to the National Science Foundation, who described him as “ailing”.
The NSF said in a statement: “The NSF has agreed to provide a humanitarian medical evacuation flight for an ailing visitor from its Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station to McMurdo Station on the Antarctic coast and then to New Zealand.
“The patient is Buzz Aldrin, who, in 1969, became one of the first men to walk on the Moon, as part of the two-man lunar landing crew of Apollo 11.
Details of his condition will not be released unless “conditions warrant”, the statement added.
Aldrin is the only surviving moonwalker from the Apollo 11 mission.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments