Possible Remains of Climber Sandy Irvine Found on Mount Everest

A National Geographic team, led by acclaimed mountaineer and filmmaker Jimmy Chin, has made a potentially groundbreaking discovery on Mount Everest, believed to be the partial remains of British climber Andrew “Sandy” Irvine. The finding was made 100 years after Irvine disappeared during a historic attempt to summit the world’s highest peak alongside famed mountaineer George Mallory.

In September, the team identified a leather boot emerging from the ice on the Central Rongbuk Glacier, located below the north face of the mountain. Upon closer examination, a sock bearing a label with “A.C. IRVINE” was found inside the boot, enclosing a foot. Chin, known for his work on documentaries like “Free Solo,” immediately recognized the significance of the find.

“We were all literally running in circles dropping F-bombs,” Chin said of the moment he and his team realized the importance of their discovery. Irvine and Mallory vanished on June 8, 1924, as they attempted to become the first climbers to reach Everest’s summit. Several theories have since circulated concerning their fate.

This discovery provides the first possible proof of Irvine’s demise since his disappearance. “It’s the first real evidence of where Sandy ended up,” stated Chin. The remains were located at a lower altitude than Mallory’s, which had been discovered in 1999. Chin has contacted Irvine’s great-niece, Julie Summers, who has expressed gratitude for the closure this find may bring to the family and the climbing community.

Upon learning of the discovery, Summers remarked, “It’s an object that belonged to him and has a bit of him in it. It tells the whole story about what probably happened.” She suspects that the remains were moved by avalanches and the shifting glacier. The Irvine family has agreed to provide DNA samples for comparison to confirm the identification.

Since Mallory’s body was found decades ago, questions have lingered regarding whether Mallory and Irvine reached the summit before their deaths. While the recent discovery brings closure to the mystery of Irvine’s whereabouts, it reignites curiosity about the pair’s possible achievement.

A unique camera reportedly carried by Irvine could hold the answers to whether the duo reached the summit. The discovery has intensified interest and speculation among historians and climbers alike, drawing parallels to other historical mysteries such as Amelia Earhart’s disappearance.

The remains are now in the custody of the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA), which oversees Everest’s northern side, while the British Consulate is working on further identification efforts. Chin, meanwhile, cautioned against revealing the precise location of the find to prevent potential trophy hunting.