NJ’s Buzz Aldrin flown out of Antarctica following illness

SOUTH POLE, Antarctica — Buzz Aldrin was flown out of Antarctica after becoming sick.

The 86-year-old, who grew up in Montclair before he became an Apollo 11 astronaut who walked on the moon, was visiting the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station with a group of visitors and his "condition deteriorated," according to a statement from White Desert, the  company that organized the trip. As as a precaution, following discussion between White Desert's doctor and the station's doctor, Aldrin was sent to New Zealand on a flight from the U.S. Antarctic Program.

"His condition was described as stable upon White Desert doctor's hand-over to the USAP medical team," the statement says. A specific ailment was not disclosed by the company, which describes itself as a luxury tourism operator that specializes in taking clients to the Antarctic.

"We are prioritizing his safe and efficient evacuation form Antarctica in close co-operation with NSF (The National Science Foundation) and IAATO," Director Robyn Woodhead told New Jersey 101.5 in an email.

Woodhead said Aldrin arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand and currently has fluid in his lungs."He is responding well to antibiotics and being kept overnight for observation. His condition is stable and his manager, who is currently with him, described him being in good spirits," Woodhead said in a statement.

The National Science Foundation, which was hosting Aldrin's group at the station, said Aldrin would fly  onboard a ski-equipped LC-130 cargo plane flown by the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard.

Aldrin was healthy and smiling in the days leading to the trip.

Posing with a turkey, Aldrin tweeted "I had a low key turkey day yesterday but reflected on all the things I'm thankful for - Family, friends, Team Buzz and looking to the future."  He also tweeted pictures of members of the travel party.

The Mount Hebron Middle School in Montclair was renamed after Aldrin in September during a ceremony that included the second man to walk on the moon. He was presented with an American flag that flew at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, for the 70th anniversary event marking the D-Day invasion of Normandy that was made by Annin Flagmakers of Roseland. Annin also made the flag that Aldrin and Buzz Armstrong planted on the moon in 1969.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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