In 1924, the two went missing near the top of the mountain, never to be seen again. In 1953, Edmund Hillary claimed the title of first man atop Everest, and his claim has not been seriously challenged since.
Now the Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition, led by the highly experienced climber Eric Simonson, has succeeded in discovering the last resting place of George Mallory, amid the jagged scree on the slopes of Everest, at about 27,000 feet above sea level and about 2000 feet below the summit.
It appears, from the position of the body, which has been remarkably preserved by the cold at that altitude, that Mallory may have fallen from a position about 1500 feet above the spot. The team now hope to find Irvine's body, and with it the camera he is thought to have been carrying. It is likely that any film it contains can still be developed, and may provide proof that the two men reached the summit of the mountain and died on the way down.
Mallory's body has been bleached by the elements where the old-fashioned clothes have been torn away by the wind, but is still amazingly intact. It is apparent that he suffered a broken left leg, which lies crossed over the right leg, as if Mallory survived the fall and was seeking a comfortable position for his injured limb. The right foot still wears a bespoke climbing boot, studded with metal cleats.
Some of Mallory's possessions have also been found on the body, including his goggles and pocket knife, and a letter from his wife Ruth, with numerous postmarks from its convoluted journey from Cambridge......
