Sydney, Dec 27: A 286,000-dollar emergency medical evacuation from Antarctica to Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island had to be carried out in order to save a man who suffered a broken jaw.

The incident, which seemed to be a Christmas brawl, ended with a ski-equipped United States Air Force Hercules making an unscheduled flight from McMurdo Station, near New Zealand's Scott Base, to the South Pole, to pick up the injured man.

The Hercules then flew him back to the ice runway near McMurdo, and a helicopter took him to the nearby medical centre, where it was decided that his injuries were too serious to be treated in Antarctica.

The man was again flown back to the runway, and boarded the Hercules, for the flight to Christchurch.

He was accompanied by a flight nurse and a paramedic during the flight, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The McMurdo staff was supposed to have a day off for Christmas, but thanks to the evacuation, dozens of support workers had to return to work.

The flight cost was estimated to be around 325,000 NZ dollars - 286,000 US dollars.

A spokeswoman at the Christchurch Hospital claimed that a man was admitted on Christmas Day, and was discharged the next day.

The South Pole station is among the most expensive places in the world to visit, and the winter medevacs from the pole cost around 2 million NZ dollars. (ANI)