The partial remains of Andrew Comyn “Sandy” Irvine are believed to have finally been discovered on Mount Everest 100 years after he went missing.
The explorer vanished at the age of 22 while attempting to conquer the world’s tallest peak on June 8, 1924, along with his climbing partner, renowned mountaineer George Mallory.
The discovery was by a small team including National Geographic Explorer, photographer, director and professional climber Jimmy Chin along with climbers and filmmakers Erich Roepke and Mark Fisher.
The discoveries include what is believed to be Irvine’s foot, encased in a sock and boot, which was found on the Central Rongbuk Glacier below the North Face of Everest. The partial remains were identified by his name stitched into the sock.
This was a lower altitude than where Mallory’s remains were located.
In an expedition to be the first to summit Everest, the mystery of whether they reached the summit before their deaths has intrigued climbers and historians for decades.
The find was reported to the Royal Geographic Society – who jointly organised Mallory and Irvine’s expedition along with the Alpine Club – which at the time was only the third British climb on Everest.
It was also shared with Irvine’s great niece and biographer, Julie Summers, one of many living family members. The family has volunteered to compare DNA test results with the remains to confirm Irvine’s identity.
Chin said: “Any expedition to Everest follows in the shadow of Irvine and Mallory. We certainly did. And sometimes in life, the greatest discoveries occur when you aren’t even looking. 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.”
“It is remarkable that this discovery was made in the centenary year of Sandy’s disappearance,” said Summers. “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. The story became more real when climbers found the body of George Mallory in 1999, and I wondered if Sandy’s body would be discovered next. A quarter of a century after that discovery, it seemed extremely unlikely that anything new would be found.
“…I found myself moved to tears. It was and will remain an extraordinary and poignant moment.”
The remains are now in the possession of the China Tibet Mountaineering Association, which is responsible for climbing permits on Everest’s northern side.
