Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, is “recovering well” in New Zealand following his evacuation from the south pole on Thursday after he fell ill during a tourist visit.
The 86-year-old former astronaut is in the hospital in Christchurch, where he has fluid in his lungs but is “responding well to antibiotics”, according to a statement on his website.
“The evacuation flight for Buzz Aldrin has successfully landed at Christchurch, New Zealand and he has been transferred to hospital for examination,” it reads. “He is currently has fluid in his lungs but is responding well to antibiotics and being kept in overnight for observation. His condition is stable and his manager, who is currently with him, described him being in good spirits.”
Aldrin’s manager Christina Korp tweeted photos of Aldrin being transferred from Antartica and recovering in a hospital bed.
After a grueling 24 hours we're safe in New Zealand. Here's the press release about how @TheRealBuzz is doing. https://t.co/neSc2MSaA7 pic.twitter.com/ompWjrbws7
— Christina Korp (@Buzzs_xtina) December 1, 2016
On Thursday morning, tour guide company White Desert said Aldrin’s health had “deteriorated” and the 86-year-old had been flown out of the south pole to McMurdo Station, a US Antarctic research center on Ross Island off Antarctica.
The company said in a news release:
As a precaution, following discussion between the White Desert doctor and the US Antarctic Program (USAP) doctor, Mr Aldrin, accompanied by a member of his team, was evacuated on the first available flight out of the South Pole to McMurdo with the USAP under the care of a USAP doctor. His condition was described as stable upon White Desert doctor’s hand-over to the USAP medial team.
The National Science Foundation said in a statement that it provided a medical evacuation flight to Aldrin, described as an “ailing visitor”, after a medical request on Thursday, and were arranging the flight to New Zealand.
Three days ago, Aldrin tweeted photos of himself in Cape Town, South Africa, about to board a plane to Antarctica.
South Pole here I come! #antarctica #WhiteDesert #GYATAntarctica pic.twitter.com/PPjfmKvanZ
— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) November 29, 2016
Buzz's Polar Penguins countdown to liftoff has commenced. #Antarctica #WhiteDesert pic.twitter.com/0vDc1yP0gT
— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) November 29, 2016
Aldrin walked on the moon in 1969, as part of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to Earth’s satellite. He has written numerous books about space travel and Mars.
.jpg?w=600)
