British explorer's 'remains' found 100 years after disappearance on Mount Everest

Suspected human remains found on Mount Everest are believed to be that of British explorer Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine, who went missing 100 years ago.

Irvine, the youngest climber of the 1924 Mount Everest expedition, disappeared with fellow mountaineer George Mallory during their daring ascent. They were last seen around 800 feet from the summit on June 8.

Their disappearance fuelled intense debate amongst climbers and historians for years, with the question of whether they reached the summit before perishing remaining a topic of much speculation.

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Now, a discovery made by a team financed by National Geographic Documentary Films for a future documentary might provide the first tangible evidence of Irvine's untimely demise since he went missing on the world's highest mountain, situated at an elevation of 8,849 metres.

A sock bearing the name 'AC Irvine' and a boot was found on the Central Rongbuk Glacier below the North Face of Mount Everest.

The Irvine family has offered DNA comparisons with the found remains to establish if they indeed belong to the lost explorer.

The items were retrieved from a lower altitude than where the body of George Mallory was discovered back in 1999 by mountaineer Conrad Anker. Currently, these recovered remains are under the custody of the China Tibet Mountaineering Association.

Speaking on the finding, Jimmy Chin, a member of the climbing team and National Geographic Explorer, said: "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."

Julie Summers, Irvine's great-niece and biographer, said: "I have lived with this story since I was a seven-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.

"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."

Professor Joe Smith, director of the Royal Geographical Society, commented: "As joint organiser of the 1924 Everest expedition (with the Alpine Club), 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.

"Sandy was an exceptional figure and made a significant contribution to our understanding of Everest and the Himalaya."

In a statement, the Irvine family said: "We are grateful to the mountaineering and film team, led by Jimmy Chin, who made the discovery and who have treated it with respect and professionalism."