An expedition led by National Geographic has reported the discovery of partial remains believed to be that of a British mountaineer who may have been one of the first two individuals to climb Mount Everest. The expedition found a foot encased in a sock embroidered with “AC Irvine” and a boot that could potentially belong to Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, who vanished at the age of 22 alongside his climbing partner, George Mallory, near Everest's peak on June 8, 1924.
Mallory and Irvine, aiming to be the first to conquer Everest, were last spotted around 800 feet from the summit before disappearing. Mallory's body was found in 1999, but there was no conclusive evidence of their summit success. The recent discovery of Irvine's remains, found at a lower altitude than Mallory’s, could potentially provide more insight into their fate.
The search for a Kodak Vest Pocket camera, lent to the climbers by expedition member Howard Somervell, remains a focal point. The camera may hold photographic evidence of their summit achievement, a topic of much debate among climbers and historians.
The Irvine family has offered to undergo DNA testing to confirm the identity of the remains. Julie Summers, Irvine's great-niece, expressed deep emotion upon learning of the discovery, highlighting the long-standing mystery surrounding her uncle's Everest expedition.
The Royal Geographical Society, which co-organized Mallory's and Irvine’s 1924 expedition, commended the expedition team for their respectful handling of the discovery. The partial remains are now in the possession of the China Tibet Mountaineering Association, responsible for climbing permits on Everest’s northern side.
