Jamaican Kim-Marie Spence has been forced to abandon plans to take part in an Antarctic expedition that began on the weekend.

"It is with much regret that 30-year-old Kim-Marie Spence from Kingston, Jamaica, has had to leave the Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition, due to frostbite on her fingers," stated a news bulletin from the expedition yesterday afternoon.

"The team left base camp at Patriot Hills at the weekend and started skiing the 900km to the South Pole on Sunday but, fol-lowing medical advice, Kim-Marie Spence has not joined them and is instead flying home to Jamaica."

Commenting on her departure from the team, Spence said: "I have frostbite, which goes to show what kind of place Antarctica is. It's really tough and I have the blackened fingers to prove it."

She added: "The doctor here has said that I cannot continue unless I'm willing to lose my fingers, but that's not the sensible route at this point in time. I wish the best to my fellow explorers and colleagues. I know that they will reach the South Pole. I also want to thank everyone for the support that I have gotten. I will continue to follow this expedition."

Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky Lab, said: "We are so sad to hear about Kim-Marie's departure from the team, but realise that this difficult decision is nonetheless the right one."