Warwick expertise helps Royal Marines reach north pole

The expertise of a Warwick Business School academic, Dr Adrian Watt, has helped the Royal Marine Commandos to become the first British unsupported team to walk to the geographic North Pole.

Corporal Alan Chambers and Marine Charlie Paton reached the North Pole in the early hours of 17 May after spending 70 days on the ice. They faced delays due to blizzards and were forced to make a long detour around a large split in the ice.

Adrian Watt, a lecturer in Operations Management and former British Army Officer, is also an expert in respiratory physiology and interested in military logistics and project management. He advised the team on what they would need to eat and drink during the expedition in order to maintain their ability to work and keep warm in extreme low temperatures. One key element was getting the nutritional balance right, so how much fat, carbohydrate and protein they should eat. This was vitally important, as the Commandos needed to take food, which was high in energy, yet light enough to drag over the 600 miles of snow and ice.

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin de Val of the Royal Marines explained, "When the men started to run low on food and had to break into their emergency rations five days before their scheduled air lift out of the arctic, food became a critical factor in the expedition. I am certain that without the right kind of nutrition on board this type of endeavour would not succeed."

Another danger the Commandos faced was that of dehydration. In temperatures of minus 18 degrees and in the dry polar atmosphere they have needed to take in around 5 litres of fluid a day to maintain their performance. Dr Adrian Watt explained that the dangers of even a small percentage drop in the body's hydration level could not be underestimated. It will slow down the body's functions and a drop of 4% could lead to a coma, 8% to death.

Adrian was delighted to hear of the team's success, "It is a fantastic achievement and an excellent example of the spirit and determination to overcome all obstacles and succeed, which we have come to expect from men such as the Royal Marines."