The two men involved in what observers called a "drunken Christmas punch-up" were flown to McMurdo Station on Ross Island at the edge of the Antarctic continent, The Guardian reported Friday. The injured man was then evacuated to Christchurch, New Zealand, when doctors at McMurdo said he could not be treated safely there.

The other man was flown to the United States.

Both men are believed to be employees of Raytheon Polar Services, a division of one of the biggest U.S. defense contractors. The Scott-Amundsen Station, which is operated by the United States, is under reconstruction.

Christmas occurs at mid-summer in Antarctica, which means perpetual daylight and temperatures around freezing.