World Extreme Medicine

09/06/2026

A rare opportunity to learn from a real high-altitude medical emergency.

While leading the World Extreme Medicine Mountain Medicine Course in Nepal, Matt Walton and John Apps were called to assist a member of another trekking group at Dingboche (4,400m) in the early hours of the morning.

The patient, Helen, was suffering from High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE), a potentially life-threatening condition, with an initial oxygen saturation reading of just 43%.

In this newly released educational video, Matt shares the real-world use of a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC bag), an emergency device that simulates descent by increasing pressure and oxygen concentration inside the chamber when evacuation and supplemental oxygen are not immediately available.

This is a rare piece of educational footage, captured during a genuine medical emergency and shared with the patient's full consent so that others in the medical community can learn from the experience.

We are incredibly grateful to Helen for allowing this footage to be shared and helping contribute to medical education worldwide.

Watch the video here:

Dr Matt Walton & John Apps were leading a group of medics on the Wo...

07/06/2026

The wind on this Cumbrian mountainside was strong enough to blow the waterfall uphill. 🌬️

A fitting farewell from Professor Mark Hannaford, founder of World Extreme Medicine, to this year’s Space Medicine Course.

Mark created the field of extreme medicine on a simple principle: the hardest environments teach us the most, and the lessons travel. Some days, the mountainside makes the point for him.

It’s the same thinking that built a course led by those who have actually flown in space, and drew students from Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, the US and across the UK to a castle in Cumbria to learn it.

To everyone who travelled so far to be part of it, thank you. For the questions, the curiosity, and the long journeys to be here.

Until the next one. 🌍

07/06/2026

When a casualty can't be evacuated immediately, clinical care changes.

The Prolonged Field Care Course is designed to help healthcare professionals develop the skills needed to manage critically injured casualties over extended periods, often with limited resources and difficult decisions to make.

Built from more than three years of frontline humanitarian work in Ukraine, this five-day residential course combines practical scenarios, expert faculty, and real-world lessons learned in austere environments.

Where: Muncaster Castle, Cumbria
When: 28th September - 2nd October 2026

All profits from the course directly support the World Extreme Medicine Fund's humanitarian medical work.

Find out more and book your place today: https://worldextrememedicine.com/extreme-medicine-courses/wemf-prolonged-field-care-course/

06/06/2026

That's a wrap on this year's World Extreme Medicine Space Medicine Course at Muncaster Castle, and what a few days it's been.

There are quite a few courses now that talk about space medicine. There are far fewer led by someone who has actually flown in space.

That changes the room.

When Dr Mike Barratt talks about medicine in space, it isn't theory. It's lived experience, medicine in a place where evacuation isn't an option, communication is delayed, kit is limited, and the usual safety nets simply don't exist.

That's what makes space medicine so valuable. It forces us to think differently. Not just about astronauts, but about medicine in all the places where the normal rules start to fall away, remote environments, military operations, humanitarian crises, expeditions, disasters and future exploration.

It's the principle WEM founder Professor Mark Hannaford CBE built the field of extreme medicine on: the hardest environments teach us the most, and the lessons travel. Bringing a faculty like this to lead the course is exactly the point.

Holding it at Muncaster added something hard to put into words. The castle, the landscape, the history, and the welcome from the Pennington family and the local community made it feel like far more than a venue - it felt like the right place to have big conversations.

A highlight was the evening reception with the local community: a full house, thoughtful questions, and a real sense of shared curiosity.

Our thanks to everyone who taught, helped, hosted and challenged us this week, and above all to Dr Mike Barratt, who brings huge credibility alongside humour, kindness, generosity and a depth of experience that can't be faked. Having him lead this course is a real privilege.

Students travelled from Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, the US and across the UK to be part of it, and we're grateful to every one of them.

Space medicine may begin in orbit. But its lessons come back to Earth very quickly. 🌍

05/06/2026

What happens when a critical system develops a fault 250 miles above Earth?

NASA has placed astronauts aboard the International Space Station on evacuation alert following a worsening air leak within the station's Russian segment.

The leak, located in the Zvezda Service Module, has reportedly been monitored for some time. However, new concerns have prompted more extensive repair efforts and precautionary measures, including directing crew members to shelter in their spacecraft and prepare for a potential evacuation if required.

While there is currently no immediate danger reported, the incident offers a powerful reminder of the realities of operating in extreme environments. Whether in space, on an expedition, at sea, or in remote wilderness settings, preparedness, systems thinking, and effective teamwork remain critical when plans change unexpectedly.

Read the full story:

Russian crew member attempting to fix a worsening leak of air on its portion of the orbital laboratory, NASA said

05/06/2026

As healthcare professionals, we are trained to recognise illness, injury, and disease. But would you recognise the signs of human exploitation?

At the World Extreme Medicine Conference 2026, Aaron Asay will tackle one of the most challenging and often overlooked healthcare issues facing clinicians today.

Drawing on extensive experience across humanitarian operations, disaster response, conflict settings, and austere environments, Aaron will explore how exploitation presents in healthcare settings, how victims are often missed, and what healthcare professionals can do to respond safely and effectively.

Using real-world case studies from Ukraine, Colombia, India, and Haiti, this session will provide practical guidance on identifying subtle warning signs, delivering victim-centred care, and avoiding actions that may unintentionally cause further harm.

Aarons Session:
When: 14th November 2026
Time: 11:30 - 12:30
Where: Salisbury Suite

Find out more and secure your place at WEM26 today: https://worldextrememedicine.com/world-extreme-medicine-conference

05/06/2026

The Royal Navy has named the three personnel who lost their lives in a helicopter crash during a routine training exercise in Devon on 3rd June 2026.

Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, and Petty Officer Owen Green are being remembered by colleagues as dedicated professionals who served with commitment, skill, and integrity.

Lieutenant Fisher was Britain's only serving female commando and was widely recognised for her determination, leadership, and commitment to service.

As investigations continue, tributes have been shared from across the Armed Forces, government, and military community in honour of three lives devoted to serving others.

Our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss.

Read the full story here:

The trio have been identified as Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher and Petty Officer Owen Green after a Merlin Mk4 came down during a routine training flight on Wednesday at Sourton Down, near Okehampton. Lt Fisher was Britain's only serving female commando.

04/06/2026

A convoy carrying ten anaesthetic machines from Devon has now safely arrived in Ukraine.

The machines, donated by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as part of a rolling replacement programme, travelled more than 1,800 miles across Europe and will now help support intensive care treatment at Kropyvnytski Hospital.

The delivery was made possible through collaboration between Royal Devon University Healthcare, World Extreme Medicine Fund (WEMF), Somerset Aid for Ukraine, and Ukrainian partner Stepan.

Founded by Prof. Mark Hannaford and Luca Alfatti, WEMF supported the logistics and transportation of the equipment as part of its ongoing humanitarian medical operations.

While no longer required within the NHS trust, the machines remain fully functional and will now help clinicians caring for patients with severe infection and trauma-related complications caused by war injuries.

What makes this story particularly special to us is the local connection. Devon organisations, NHS teams, charities, and volunteers all played a role in helping this equipment reach the people who need it most.

Health Innovation and Safety Minister Preet Kaur Gill described the initiative as “truly remarkable”, highlighting how partnerships like this are helping build lasting healthcare relationships between the UK and Ukraine.

This initiative also forms part of a wider partnership focused on shared medical learning between UK and Ukrainian healthcare teams, including trauma medicine and mass casualty preparedness.

Thank you to everybody involved in making this happen.

Read full press release: https://www.wemfund.com/ten-anaesthetic-machines-transported-from-devon-to-ukraine-to-support-critical-care-treatment/

The WEMFund was cofounded by WEM’s Prof. Mark Hannaford & Luca Alfatti in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

04/06/2026

Remember Helen?

A little while ago, we shared the story of Helen, who joined our Ocean Medicine Course before setting off to take on the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

This week, she checked in from Costa Rica with this brilliant update:

"My WEM buff has come in handy both in the North Pacific and now in Costa Rica!"

There's something special about seeing members of our community take the skills, confidence, and friendships they've built with us and carry them into their next adventure.

From crossing the North Pacific to sailing through Central America, Helen is continuing her incredible journey around the world while raising funds for UNICEF UK along the way.

We're proud to be a small part of the story and can't wait to see where she heads next.

Fair winds, Helen. We're all cheering you on from shore.

If you'd like to support Helen's UNICEF fundraising efforts, you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/helen-leonard-clipper-race

02/06/2026

What happens when medicine is practised in environments where evacuation is delayed, resources are limited, and conditions are unpredictable?

Join us on Thursday 25th June at 7pm for a live webinar exploring the MSc in Extreme Medicine, delivered in partnership with the University of Exeter.

This online session will provide an overview of the programme, whether you’re actively considering applying or simply curious about the future of healthcare in austere environments, this is an opportunity to hear directly from the team and ask questions about the programme.

📅 Thursday 25th June
🕖 7:00 pm BST
💻 Online

Register for free ⤵
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