SYDNEY: A seriously ill Antarctic worker returned to Australia on an icebreaker on Friday, which battled freezing temperatures and a seven-meter swell to bring him home.

The Aurora Australis docked in the southern city of Hobart, almost two weeks after evacuating the tradesman from Australia’s Davis station.

“He will require ongoing medical treatment but we are very pleased he has traveled well over the past couple of weeks and his condition has not deteriorated,” said Dr. Jeff Ayton, the chief medical officer with the Australian Antarctic Division.

The sick worker has not been named and no details given of his illness, but Ayton said he was a in serious but stable condition and had been transferred to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

An emergency call to evacuate the man was made on March 19, prompting the Aurora Australis — which left the station two days earlier — to turn back to rescue him.