An expedition on Mount Everest led by National Geographic has returned some interesting findings. The climbers are pretty sure they found the partial remains of Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, a British mountaineer who may have been one of the first people to reach the summit in 1924.
The expedition found a foot inside a sock embroidered with “AC Irvine” and a boot. This appendage and clothing may belong to 22-year-old Irvine, who disappeared on June 8, 1924. Irvine accompanied George Mallory, as the pair set out to be the first to reach the world’s highest peak. Mallory’s remains were located in 1999, but the mystery of whether or not the men had reached the summit continued.
The Climb
Irvine and Mallory were last seen around 800 feet (245 meters) from the summit. Given how close they were, historians have debated if they were the first to ever reach the top of Everest. Currently, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay are considered the first to reach Everest’s summit on May 29th, 1953. Almost almost three decades after Irvine and Mallory possibly did.
Mallory’s body was recovered in 1999 but there was no evidence pointing to if he reached the summit or not. In contrast, Irvine’s body, if it’s ever fully recovered, may contain some proof. Given that, he was carrying a Kodak Vest Pocket camera lent to them by expedition member Howard Somervell. If the camera can be recovered, and the film is still good, it could contain proof of them reaching the summit.
Irvine’s Remains
“This was a monumental and emotional moment for us and our entire team on the ground, and we just hope this can finally bring peace of mind to his relatives and the climbing world at large,” climb team member and National Geographic explorer Jimmy Chin said. Chin is also one of the people directly involved in the discovery, who’s photos showcase the find.
Irvine’s partial remains were found at a lower altitude than Mallory’s, but he refused to confirm where to discourage trophy hunting. He is confident the rest of his body will be found nearby. “It certainly reduces the search area,” he told National Geographic.
Irvine’s family has already volunteered to compare DNA test results with the remains to confirm his identity. His great-niece and biographer, Julie Summers, said she was flooded with emotions when she heard the news.
“I have lived with this story since I was a 7-year-old when my father told us about the mystery of Uncle Sandy on Everest,” she explains. “When Jimmy told me that he saw the name AC Irvine on the label on the sock inside the boot, I found myself moved to tears. It was and will remain an extraordinary and poignant moment.”
Chin along with climbers/filmmakers Erich Roepke and Mark Fisher discovered and reported the remains to the Royal Geographical Society, which organized Mallory and Irvine’s expedition with the Alpine Club.
“As joint organizer of the 1924 Everest expedition, the society deeply appreciates the respect Jimmy Chin’s team has shown Sandy Irvine’s remains and their sensitivity toward Sandy’s family members and others connected to that expedition,” said Joe Smith, Royal Geographical Society director.
We’ll keep you posted with updates on this situation as they become available. We hope Irvine’s family receives some much-needed closure soon.
