Explorers are rescued from the ice with just ONE DAY of food left after taking weeks longer than planned to reach the North Pole

• Norwegian Boerge Ousland and South African Mike Horn journeyed 1,120 miles 
• The pair would have run out of food entirely if they got stuck due to the wind
• Ousland and Horn walked for 11 hours non-stop to get closer to their rescuers

Two North Pole explorers – whose delayed journey left them dangerously close to running out of food – made it to safety with just one day’s worth of rations left.

Norwegian Boerge Ousland and South African Mike Horn journeyed 1,120 miles across floating ice but delays meant their food supplies were due to run out by Friday.

The duo, who declined a helicopter rescue, were saved by Norwegians Bengt Rotmo and Aleksander Gamme who carried food for the struggling team after setting off on Tuesday.

Norwegian Boerge Ousland (left) and South African Mike Horn (right) journeyed 1,120 miles but delays meant their food supplies were due to run out by Friday. Pictured: The pair after arriving at the Lance icebreaker boat

The pair (pictured) would have run out of food entirely if they had gotten stuck due to the wind that was gradually getting stronger, the BBC reports

The pair would have run out of food entirely if they had gotten stuck due to the wind that was gradually getting stronger, the BBC reports.

Both pairs were in constant contact with expedition organiser Lars Ebbesen using a satellite phone.

Regular updates were posted on Horn’s Instagram page throughout the expedition which was started on September 23.

Ousland (second left) and Horn (third left), who declined a helicopter rescue, were saved by Norwegians Bengt Rotmo (far left) and Aleksander Gamme (far right) who carried food for the struggling team after setting off on Tuesday

One update, posted on Friday, told how Ousland and Horn walked for 11 hours non-stop after only four hours of sleep in the hope of getting closer to their rescuers.

The latest post, shared today, shows Ousland and Horn on board the Lance, the Norwegian polar research ship.

The post reads: ‘We made it! We made it to Lance with our last day of food ration. 

‘It was an amazing arrival! From far we could see the lights of Lance and as we were skiing towards it, the lights got bigger and bigger and eventually we just stepped off the ice and onto the boat and the rest was history!

The pair are now safely on board the Lance, the Norwegian polar research ship (pictured)

‘The last 12 km were tough, we were doing about 2-3km/hour. We were really moving at a slow pace but remaining constant. Eventually when we managed to get onto boat, and all of a sudden we felt totally relaxed. 

‘We were welcomed with a great meal of spinach soup, steak and chocolate fondant and ice cream. Just an amazing welcome!

‘We are feeling exhausted and very tired mentally and physically right now. But as we stepped onto the boat, our bodies could switch off survival mode and we were relieved of all stress. 

One update, posted on Friday, told of how Ousland and Horn walked for 11 hours non-stop after only four hours of sleep in the hope of getting closer to their rescuers. Pictured: Mike Horn poses in front of the Lance

‘After eating we took a long shower and the hot water against our skin felt incredible! We are now going to sleep well and rest while we make our way back to Norway.

‘As for Lance, we are currently stuck in the ice but trying to make our way out of it! And once we get out, we will be heading south and meeting up with Pangaea in a matter of days!’

Pangea is due to take the pair to Norwegian archipelago Svalbard.

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