Tough UK Grandma Hopes To Set Pole-To-Pole World Record

Jennifer Murray, 63, and Colin Bodill, 54, are planning a second around-the-world helicopter flight record starting December 5th. The North-pole to South-pole flight would be a world first.

The pair's first attempt in 2003 ended in disaster as their Bell 407 went down on the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica, a victim of the notoriously fast-changing Antarctic weather. The crash site was 120 miles from the nearest camp. They had already flown from New York down through Central and South America to the South Pole, and were on the flip side headed to the North Pole.

Bodill suffered a serious back injury in the crash requiring several surgeries. Murray, suffering from a dislocated elbow, managed to erect a survival tent and keep herself and Bodill alive until help arrived.

An RAF base in Kinloss Scotland initially picked up the ELT signal from Murray's and Bodill's downed helicopter. The word was passed from there to a Falkland Island rescue service, then on to the British Antarctic Survey team.

Murray and Bodill had prearranged and paid for search and rescue services prior to departing. The rescue effort took nearly 17 hours, which is actually nearly as fast as is humanly possible given the conditions.

The pair was airlifted from the crash site via Twin Otter to a base camp at Patriot Hills, then on from there to Punta Arenas, Chile.

Murray's online diary recounted the brutal and primitive conditions the pair faced on the first attempt. "We camped 30 miles out from the Pole," she wrote. "Finding a landing spot that would hold the weight of the helicopter without sinking proved a nightmare. Repeated attempts at landing were followed by that sinking sensation. I suggested that I get out and put planks of wood under the skids. While getting the wood out, my computer fell on to the ice and I didn't have time to put on jacket and gloves."

While awaiting rescue, the ambient temperatures hovered around -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Murray and Bodill plan to use another Bell 407 on the second attempt. Their plan has them departing Fort Worth's Alliance Airport on December 5th traveling 169 days through 34 countries over 36,206 nautical miles.

Murray told the BBC, "We've always said we'll have another go, and that's exactly what we're going to do. We've got unfinished business."

FMI: www.polarfirst.com