Antarctic expeditioner David Knoff has been away from home for more than 530 days — and now he's back, he faces a struggle to adjust to the new coronavirus pandemic reality.
Mr Knoff's planned 12-month Antarctic season was extended by the pandemic.
"We left Australia back in October 2019, well before the pandemic was a thing, and we've watched it all unfold from the safety of Antarctica," Mr Knoff said.
"At the start of the year especially, there was a time when we had more freedom than people back home," Mr Knoff said.
"We had a dawn service on ANZAC Day out on the sea ice which was really beautiful and no one else was allowed to do that back home."
He said his homecoming had been surreal and it was likely to take him some time to adjust to a world where COVID-19 was a consideration.
"It is quite a daunting experience to see how the world has changed," he said.
"Being away for that long — that was two Christmases, two birthdays, two New Years — watching the pandemic unfold back home.
"To not know what that was like and not be able to help and to reach out to family and friends back home … that was challenging.
"I haven't been to a supermarket yet, I don't know what it's like.
He was one of a group of expeditioners who have spent the entire pandemic holed up at Australia's remote Antarctic stations but have now returned to the mainland — and to an unfamiliar COVID reality.
They arrived at Fremantle Port this week onboard the Antarctic supply ship MPV Everest, which had been due to dock in Hobart but was forced to change course after a fire broke out inside one of its engine rooms while it was at sea.
No one was injured in the blaze, which is under investigation, but it marked a dramatic end to an eventful mission for the expeditioners as they dealt with transport disruptions and worked to keep their stations COVID-free.
