Remains of Everest explorer Sandy Irvine discovered 100 years after his disappearance

The remains believed to belong to Andrew Comyn “Sandy” Irvine, who disappeared alongside George Mallory in 1924 while attempting to conquer the world’s highest peak, have likely been found. The discovery was made by a National Geographic team during the filming of a documentary, reigniting discussions about whether the duo managed to reach the summit before their deaths.

Irvine, then 22 years old, and Mallory, 37, were last seen on June 8, 1924, as they attempted to become the first people to scale Mount Everest. However, it remains unclear if they succeeded before their ill-fated descent. Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999 by U.S. climber Conrad Anker, but Irvine’s whereabouts remained unknown until now.

The recent discovery of what is believed to be Irvine’s foot, still encased in a boot and sock stitched with his name, was made on the Central Rongbuk Glacier, below the North Face of Everest. The boot was found at a lower altitude than Mallory’s remains, suggesting that Irvine may have fallen farther down the mountain. Jimmy Chin, a professional climber and director, led the team alongside filmmakers Erich Roepke and Mark Fisher. Chin described the moment they found the boot: “I lifted up the sock, and there’s a red label that has A.C. IRVINE stitched into it.”

For decades, historians, climbers, and Irvine’s family have speculated about the fate of the young mountaineer. His great-niece and biographer, Julie Summers, expressed her emotions upon learning of the discovery. “When Jimmy told me that he saw the name A.C. 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,” she told The Guardian.

The mystery of whether Irvine and Mallory reached the summit remains unresolved, but the discovery has reignited hope that Irvine’s Kodak camera—known to have been with him—could still be recovered. If found, it could hold photographic evidence of their potential summit, which would rewrite the history of mountaineering. The summit was officially reached for the first time in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, 29 years after Irvine and Mallory’s expedition.

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The find has been reported to the China Tibet Mountaineering Association, which oversees the northern side of Everest, as well as the Royal Geographical Society, which co-organized the 1924 expedition. Irvine’s family has volunteered to provide DNA samples to confirm the identity of the remains. Professor Joe Smith, director of the Royal Geographical Society, stated, “Sandy was an exceptional figure and made a significant contribution to our understanding of Everest and the Himalaya.”

While the discovery of the foot provides critical new evidence, the search for more artifacts, including Irvine’s camera, continues. Chin remarked, “Any expedition to Everest follows in the shadow of Irvine and Mallory. We certainly did.” The discovery has provided some closure for Irvine’s family and the wider climbing community.

Although many questions remain about the final moments of Irvine and Mallory’s climb, this recent discovery offers new hope in solving one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in adventure history.