Partial remains of Sandy Irvine found on Mount Everest

A discovery on Everest by a National Geographic team led by Jimmy Chin provides new evidence in one of the great mysteries in the history of mountaineering. A boot, along with sock and foot were found below the north face of Everest.  The sock has a name label stitched into it, identifying it as a belonging to ‘A C Irvine’. Andrew Comyn Irvine, or as we know him, Sandy Irvine, went missing at the age of 22 on Mount Everest. Sandy was a Merton student at the time, reading Chemistry. 

8 June 2024 marked 100 years since Sandy disappeared with fellow climber George Mallory. The College marked the occasion with an exhibition. Many special items were brought out of the archives, including Sandy's annotated clothing list and the invoices for his expedition purchases, including his boots.

(c) The Warden and Fellows of Merton College Oxford.

Although the physical exhibition has now closed, you can still view the online exhibition and specially curated Expedition Timeline. 

Read the National Geographic exclusive.