Buzz Aldrin Recovering After South Pole Medical Evacuation

Altitude sickness might have caused the evacuation of New Jersey native and iconic U.S. astronaut Buzz Aldrin during a trip to the South Pole last week, reports say.

In a statement on his website, Montclair native Aldrin - part of the Apollo 11 team and the second human to set foot on the moon – reported that he was in recovery and “looking forward to getting home soon to spend Christmas with his family” after being medically evacuated from the South Pole on Thursday after his medical condition deteriorated, according to local authorities.

Aldrin, 86, was taken by helicopter from a scientific research station at the South Pole to McMurdo Station on Antarctica's coast, said a release from the National Science Foundation, which provided the flight. Aldrin landed in Christchurch, New Zealand, at about 4:25 a.m. local time on Friday, Dec. 2.

Aldrin was visiting the South Pole as part of a tourist group through the luxury travel company White Desert. A statement from White Desert said Aldrin's "condition deteriorated," and he was evacuated as a precaution.

• See related article: Buzz Aldrin Medically Evacuated From South Pole

“I started to feel a bit short of breath so the staff decided to check my vitals,” Aldrin said, recalling his experience. “After some examination, they noticed congestion in my lungs and that my oxygen levels were low which indicated symptoms of altitude sickness. This prompted them to get me out on the next flight to McMurdo and once I was at sea level I began to feel much better.”

Aldrin added:

“Thanks to everyone from around the world for their well wishes and support. I’m being very well looked after in Christchurch. I’m looking forward to getting home soon to spend Christmas with my family and to continue my quest for Cycling Pathways and a permanent settlement on Mars. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Apparently, the hospital visit didn’t dampen Aldrin’s wry sense of humor, as evidenced by a series of Twitter posts from his hospital bed.

CATCHING UP WITH THE BUZZ

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• See related article: NJ Hall of Fame Inducts Montclair’s Buzz Aldrin

Photo: NASA

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Previous reporting by Marc Torrence