Lamakin Dmitry
20.10.2008
Every year, in the beginning of Antarctic spring, a sled train departs for the Vostok station. It brings food, equipment, machinery, and, most importantly, hundreds of tonnes of fuel necessary for survival at the Pole of Cold.
Before the 20th century, cross-country vehicles would follow the shortest route to Vostok, the one from the Mirny station. It would take about 3 months.
That road had many trials in store. The first 100 km was the most dangerous part of the track. The glacier was covered with cracks all over. It would constantly slide down towards the ocean, and the cracks would continuously shift and grow several hundred metres deep. For safety reasons, haul trucks had to follow each other closely in a narrow line.
In October 2008, a convoy of cross-country vehicles embarked on a trip. Suddenly, it was blocked by a wide crack. They had to improvise a wooden platform in order to overcome the obstacle. Mechanic Dmitry Lamakin was called from the Mirny station to help. He brought planks.
Dmitry had already worked as part of the 53rd Antarctic expedition for a year. He was well-versed in machinery and could find defects literally ‘by ear’.
The pass over the crack was finally built, and the vehicles could continue their journey. Unexpectedly, at the very turning point, Dmitry’s truck fell down of its own accord into the 30 m deep abyss.
They could not bring the vehicle back up right after the tragedy; Dmitry’s body remained in the flattened cab. The expedition left for Vostok and the very first snowstorm covered the crack to the top.
Lamakin’s wife and Mother were able to press for a search. As soon as the following year, a rescue party from the Ministry of Civil Defense was sent to Antarctica by presidential decree. 12 life-savers from the Centrospas Unit were to find Dmitry’s body. In order to do that, they had to break open the snow layer of many metres, though it seemed that the crack had been lost under the snow forever.
At the end of Antarctic summer the rescuers completed the task. Word was sent to the explorer’s family: the operation was a success.
Dmitry Lamakin was buried at home, in Kushchyovskaya village (stanitsa), Krasnodar Territory (Krai).
Soon after the tragedy the track from Mirny to Vostok was closed down. Now all trips begin at the Progress station and follow a safer route.
Before the 20th century, cross-country vehicles would follow the shortest route to Vostok, the one from the Mirny station. It would take about 3 months.
That road had many trials in store. The first 100 km was the most dangerous part of the track. The glacier was covered with cracks all over. It would constantly slide down towards the ocean, and the cracks would continuously shift and grow several hundred metres deep. For safety reasons, haul trucks had to follow each other closely in a narrow line.
In October 2008, a convoy of cross-country vehicles embarked on a trip. Suddenly, it was blocked by a wide crack. They had to improvise a wooden platform in order to overcome the obstacle. Mechanic Dmitry Lamakin was called from the Mirny station to help. He brought planks.
Dmitry had already worked as part of the 53rd Antarctic expedition for a year. He was well-versed in machinery and could find defects literally ‘by ear’.
The pass over the crack was finally built, and the vehicles could continue their journey. Unexpectedly, at the very turning point, Dmitry’s truck fell down of its own accord into the 30 m deep abyss.
They could not bring the vehicle back up right after the tragedy; Dmitry’s body remained in the flattened cab. The expedition left for Vostok and the very first snowstorm covered the crack to the top.
Lamakin’s wife and Mother were able to press for a search. As soon as the following year, a rescue party from the Ministry of Civil Defense was sent to Antarctica by presidential decree. 12 life-savers from the Centrospas Unit were to find Dmitry’s body. In order to do that, they had to break open the snow layer of many metres, though it seemed that the crack had been lost under the snow forever.
At the end of Antarctic summer the rescuers completed the task. Word was sent to the explorer’s family: the operation was a success.
Dmitry Lamakin was buried at home, in Kushchyovskaya village (stanitsa), Krasnodar Territory (Krai).
Soon after the tragedy the track from Mirny to Vostok was closed down. Now all trips begin at the Progress station and follow a safer route.
Family's archive photos
