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British Scientist Survived 2 Months Trapped in an Igloo Under a Mountain of Snow and Ice
Trying to study extreme weather nearly got a man killed a century ago
In the search for truth and answers, scientists will explore all avenues in their inquiries. This can sometimes place them in danger, as one British scientist found out a century ago when he became trapped in an igloo for two months, completely buried under a mountain of snow and ice — when all he was there for was to study weather conditions.
An incredible rescue of British scientist and adventurer Augustine Courtauld took place in Angmagsalik, Greenland in 1931. He had been brought to the rough and remote territory on Greenland’s Ice Cap Station by a Swedish aviator named Captain Albin Ahrenberg. As he settled into a small igloo to observe weather in the bleak outpost for a period of five month, something terrifying happened.
A massive winter storm blew in and dumped many feet of snow and ice on the area. Courtauld was able to take refuge in his makeshift home before the worst of it came in but he absentmindedly left many of his essential supplies outside, along with his lone shovel. The igloo became completely encased in a mass of snow and ice, blocking all exits. Effectively, he had no way to try and break out of prison…
