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An Antarctic researcher 'snapped' after being 'driven mad by confined space' and stabbed his colleague in a frenzy, it has been reported.

Engineer Sergey Savitsky, 55, is accused of stabbing welder Oleg Beloguzov, 52, in the chest.

The alleged attack was in the canteen at Russian Antarctic station Bellingshausen on King George Island, part of the South Shetland Islands on the world’s remotest continent.

The wounded man was evacuated to Chile, the nearest emergency hospital, with a knife injury to the chest.

He is thought to be critically ill and fighting for his life.

(Image: CEN)

His heart was injured in the attack and he was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital, it is reported.

The alleged attacker was deported to Russia’s second city St Petersburg where he was immediately arrested and a criminal probe launched.

Savitsky has admitted he stabbed his colleague but claimed he did not intend to kill him, reported Nevskie Novosti citing law enforcement sources.

The attack was reported to have been on October 9.

(Image: CEN)

The head of the Russian station used special powers to detain the alleged knifeman and start a criminal probe.

Both men involved in the incident are on the staff of the research station.

An aircraft was dispatched from St Petersburg the same day to bring the accused man back to Russia.

The press service of Arctic and Antarctic Scientific Research Institute said the reports were true but has not elaborated.

It is unclear what caused the alleged dispute between the two men at the remote scientific station.

(Image: CEN)

Witness statements have been taken and are being examined in St Petersburg by the Russian Investigative Committee, seen as similar to the FBI.

Reports say this is the first such a crime has occurred at a Russian station in Antarctica. Twelve researchers continue their work at the Bellingshausen Station.

The station was set up in 1968 by a Soviet Antarctic expedition.

It is one of the few locations on the continent with a tundra rather than ice cap climate - so is seen as relatively mild.

It is also the site of a permanently staffed Orthodox church.

The station is named after 19th century Russian explorer Fabian von Bellingshausen.