A sick American woman working at a South Pole research facility has been evacuated to New Zealand after suffering what doctors believe was a stroke.

Renee-Nicole Douceur, who worked as a research manager at the National Science Foundation's facility in Antarctica, arrived in Christchurch early Monday. She requested the emergency evacuation in August after becoming ill with stroke-like symptoms, including loss of vision and speech problems.

However, officials with the company operating the base denied the request due to bad weather and said her condition was not life threatening.

At the time, temperatures at the pole dropped as low as minus 58 degrees celsius.

An earlier rescue attempt Saturday had to be aborted due to heavy winds and snow that prevented the aircraft from landing.

Douceur is expected to undergo medical testing on Tuesday to assess her condition.