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Tributes to Scottish scientist who died in Antarctica snowmobile accident | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The family of a Dundee-born scientist who died in Antarctica said they were "immensely proud" of his achievements. | |
Dr Gordon Hamilton, 50, was killed after his snowmobile plunged 100ft (30.48m) into a crevasse on Saturday. | |
His body was later recovered and the US Antarctic Program has launched an investigation into his death. | His body was later recovered and the US Antarctic Program has launched an investigation into his death. |
Dr Hamilton's family, including his wife Fiona and children Martin and Calum, said in a statement they were "devastated" by his death. | |
Dr Hamilton was a University of Maine professor in the School of Earth and Climate Sciences, and a researcher with the Climate Change Institute. | Dr Hamilton was a University of Maine professor in the School of Earth and Climate Sciences, and a researcher with the Climate Change Institute. |
He was part of a team camped in a heavily crevassed area known as the Shear Zone, around 25 miles (40.23 km) south of McMurdo Station, the largest of the three US research stations in Antarctica. | He was part of a team camped in a heavily crevassed area known as the Shear Zone, around 25 miles (40.23 km) south of McMurdo Station, the largest of the three US research stations in Antarctica. |
'Immensely proud' | |
Dr Hamilton's family said his interest in geography developed while attending Dundee's Harris Academy. | |
After leaving school, he attended Aberdeen University and gained a PhD from Cambridge University. | |
His family said: "During this time he had his first experiences of polar exploration that went on to form such an important part of his life and career. | |
"Although Gordon had worked abroad in Norway and the USA for more than 20 years, he maintained a love of Scotland, always eager to find out the Dundee FC score or to hear how the Scotland rugby team was getting on." | |
Dr Hamilton visited Scotland in July to celebrate his 50th birthday. | |
His family said he visited the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail in Dundee and saw a concert in Stornaway by Runrig, a band he had followed since his schooldays. | |
The statement said: "His wife Fiona, children Martin and Calum in America, Gordon's family in the UK and friends throughout the world are all devastated at his death. | |
"However, they are immensely proud of all that he achieved in his life." | |
'Tragic reminder' | 'Tragic reminder' |
Colleagues also paid tribute to the scientist following the tragedy. | |
Paul Mayewski, director of the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute, said: "You knew that if Gordon came into the tent, that things were going to be fun and pleasant. | Paul Mayewski, director of the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute, said: "You knew that if Gordon came into the tent, that things were going to be fun and pleasant. |
"They were repeating an activity that they'd done many times before, but it's a dangerous area and accidents happen. That's exactly what this was." | "They were repeating an activity that they'd done many times before, but it's a dangerous area and accidents happen. That's exactly what this was." |
Dr Hamilton spent much of his time in Greenland and Antarctica studying the movement and melting of glaciers and its effect on rising sea levels. | Dr Hamilton spent much of his time in Greenland and Antarctica studying the movement and melting of glaciers and its effect on rising sea levels. |
The National Science Foundation, which was funding Dr Hamilton's research, is arranging the return of his body to the United States. | The National Science Foundation, which was funding Dr Hamilton's research, is arranging the return of his body to the United States. |
Kelly K Falkner, director of the division's polar programs, said: "The death of one of our colleagues is a tragic reminder of the risks we all face, no matter how hard we work at mitigating those risks, in field research." |
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