Intrepid British grandmother Mrs Jenny Murray was pulled from the wreckage of her helicopter by her injured co-pilot after they crashed in the frozen wastes of Antarctica, it emerged today.
Despite suffering more serious injuries, Mr Colin Bodill then wrapped her in a sleeping bag and managed to set up camp before eventually collapsing as they waited to be rescued yesterday.
Details of the dramatic survival in temperatures of minus-40 Celsius and high winds emerged as the pair were recovering in hospital today.
Mrs Murray (63) a friend of the Duchess of York, dislocated her elbow, while Mr Bodill (53) suffered chest injuries as the Bell 407 helicopter went out of control and crashed to the ground.
A Polar First Challenge spokesman said today: "Colin sustained injuries typical of those received in high-impact crashes. He is undergoing a thorough medical assessment but is lucid, conscious and stable. Jennifer has dislocated an elbow, not broken an arm as was first feared.
The helicopter crashed in frozen wastes 120 miles north of Patriot Hills, a base on the northern section of the Ronne Ice Shelf in western Antarctica.
The Polar First Challenge 2003 lifted off from New York on October 22, with the pilots aiming to break the Pole-to-Pole record and raise awareness and funds for the conservation organisation WWF in the process.
PA