An American scientists working in Antarctica, who was apparently stranded for about two months following a suspected stroke, has been airlifted from the South Pole to Christchurch, New Zealand and is now undergoing treatment.

Renee-Nicole Douceur is suspected to have suffered a stroke in August. She was working at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole research station. Raytheon Polar Services, the employer of the scientist, has not commented on the nature of her illness.

The company ahs only said that it is working with physicians and the National Science Foundation to make sure that is treated well and was transported to New Zealand. The 58-year-old scientist was taken to New Zealand on a scheduled cargo flight on Monday.

Douceur said that she felt relieved after arriving in the South Island city of Christchurch on Monday night. She added that she was satisfied that she could make the flight without further medical problems.

"Coming from the South Pole on the unpressurised plane, I was worried about whether it could do some more serious damage or a stroke or who knows what else. They kept the plane at very low altitudes, the air crew know what to do if something happened to me," she said.