ARCTIC adventurers had to take drastic action to avoid weeks of isolation on the Greenland ice sheet after disaster struck.

Simon Elmont and Steve Wright (pictured) had been hoping to cross the world’s second-biggest ice cap in five weeks but an ankle injury left the pair stranded within a week.

After they had been holed up in a tent for five days, the Greenland police told them their helicopter would not be able to pick them up for at least another three days. With the bad weather continuing and facing the prospect of being stuck in a tent for many more days, they asked a dog sled team in a town 80 miles away for help.

Fourteen hours later, the team arrived and they set off for Isortoq. ‘We could have been there for another few weeks,’ said Mr Elmont.

‘We were safe on the ice and we had plenty of food and fuel, but we were very fed up and getting cabin fever because we were stuck in a tent in the middle of nowhere with a howling gale outside. We decided to get ourselves out.’

Mr Elmont said it had been very frustrating to realise they would not be able to complete their journey. He had damaged his ankle through repetitive movement and stress.