The body of a French scientific diver who went missing beneath Antarctic sea ice earlier this month has been recovered, according to the Institut polaire français Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV).
The diver, who has been identified as Gérald Malaussena, disappeared on 13 January while working beneath sea ice near France’s Dumont d’Urville research station in Adélie Land. He had been carrying out a scientific dive with a colleague when he failed to return to the surface.
IPEV said a search was launched immediately, with teams creating breaches in the ice in a grid pattern, through which cameras were deployed to examine the surrounding water.
The institute said sonar equipment, usually used to measure the thickness of the ice, but which is capable of detecting metal several metres below the surface, was also deployed during the operation.
IPEV sought assistance from nearby Australian and US bases, which led to United States Coast Guard personnel travelling from McMurdo Station to assist the search using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV).
‘The ROV’s dives under the sea ice began the following morning and continued throughout the day without success,’ said an IPEV spokesperson. ‘After exploring as wide an area as possible around the dive site, the American team departed on 17 January.’
Search activity continued over the following days using additional methods, including infrared cameras deployed beneath the ice, and the French icebreaker L’Astrolabe brought additional personnel to reinforce the operation, including three French divers from Réunion Island.
On 21 January, a second remotely operated vehicle equipped with sonar technology arrived from McMurdo Station.
‘The long range of this new equipment (300 meters) allowed for the exploration of an area that had not yet been searched, given the resources available at the time,’ said IPEV. ‘It was in this area that Gérald Malaussena’s body was located.’
Polar Journal reported that the dive was conducted as part of authorised scientific work and that surface teams and ice-based searches were initiated as soon as the diver was reported missing.
IPEV said Malaussena was on his fifth consecutive summer deployment to Antarctica. ‘Gérald was the consummate professional with a sharp wit and a quick mind. Well-liked by everyone, he knew how to share his passion for diving and music.’
In a separate message, IPEV director David Renault said: ‘You will forever be with us, part of this polar family.’
The institute has said that no conclusions will be drawn about the cause of the incident until a full investigation has been completed.
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