After a group of 74 passengers and crew members were stranded on an ice-bound ship in Antarctic waters for more than a week, the 52 passengers aboard the Russian research vessel were lifted to safety on Thursday. A Chinese helicopter transported them from the stranded MV Akademik Shokalskiy to the Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis.
Initial rescue attempts over the weekend by the Chinese icebreaker MV Xue Long and the Aurora Australis were unsuccessful because the ice was too thick. Harsh weather conditions grounded the Xue Long's helicopter for several more days, before the rescue could be successfully executed.
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The Akademik Shokalskiy's voyage, which began Nov. 28, got cut short last week when a blizzard surrounded the ship in sea ice. Chris Turney, a leader on the expedition and professor at the University of New South Wales, describes the rescue operation in the YouTube video below.

Passengers, including Turney and journalists Alok Jha and Laurence Topham of The Guardian, provided consistent updates on social media from the time they were stranded on Christmas Eve. Turney tagged many of his social media posts with #spiritofmawson because his research team was recreating Australian explorer Douglas Mawson's 1911 to 1913 voyage to Antarctica.
Passengers further documented their rescue:
EXCLUSIVE: First picture of Chinese helicopter evacuation of Akademik Shokalskiy via @loztopham for @guardian pic.twitter.com/9WEFChFy0K
— Antarctica Live (@GdnAntarctica) January 2, 2014
The first of the helicopters to take us home. Thanks everyone! #spiritofmawson Alok Jha https://t.co/WawL6pQz9J
— Chris Turney (@ProfChrisTurney) January 2, 2014
Take off! second team gone. Looking good. #spiritofmawson Alok Jha https://t.co/wdrtEYbKPq
— Chris Turney (@ProfChrisTurney) January 2, 2014
While the helicopter airlifted the passengers to safety in groups of 12, the Akademik Shokalskiy's 22 crew members did not abandon ship. They will wait behind until the ice surrounding the ship breaks up, the Associated Press reports.
After arriving safely on the Australian icebreaker, Jha and Topham expressed gratitude toward the rescue crews.
To the crew of Aurora Australis + Xue Long - heartfelt thanks from all on the Shokalskiy. We know how far out of your way you all went (1/2)
— Alok Jha (@alokjha) January 2, 2014
...and at a time you had a lot of other, more important, work to do. Truly appreciated. Thank you. (2/2)
— Alok Jha (@alokjha) January 2, 2014
All passengers safe & well. HUGE thanks to icebreakers Aurora Australis & Xue Long for all your help! via @loztopham pic.twitter.com/q7uL5FiJeQ
— Antarctica Live (@GdnAntarctica) January 2, 2014
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Image: Andrew Peacock/AFP/Getty Images