South Africa is taking part in an air mission to rescue a severely injured Norwegian mechanic at an Antarctica research station, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.

Sigurd Sande, aged 50, broke his leg nine days ago at the Norwegian polar team base at Troll.

On Friday bad weather caused South African pilots and medics to abort a rescue attempt.

Their private jet which flew out of Cape Town reached the "point of no return" about 1500 kilometres from Troll.

At this stage, if the team had continued, they would not have had enough fuel to return to Cape Town.

Sande, part of Norway's research team in Antarctica, broke his leg while hiking. He has a complex leg fracture and is being treated by the team doctor. However if his leg is to be saved he urgently needs to get treatment at the nearest hospital, which is in Cape Town.

The South African rescue team hopes to make a second rescue attempt on Wednesday or Thursday if weather conditions approve.

A number of aircraft options are ready to leave from Cape Town's International Airport at a moment's notice, said the Sunday Times.

The South African base in Antarctica is about 200 kilometres from Troll, making them the Norwegians' nearest neighbours.

Sapa