The remains of a British explorer who died after falling into a deep crevice in Antarctica during an expedition have been recovered after 66 years.
According to reports from BBC and others on Nov. 11 (local time), the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) confirmed that the body recovered in Antarctica earlier this year belonged to Denis Tink Bell, who died during an expedition in July 1959 at the age of 25.
At the time, Bell was serving as a meteorologist on a mission dispatched to Antarctica by BAS's predecessor institution. He was conducting a survey near King George Island when he fell into a deep crevice in the glacier, known as a "crevasse."
Fellow explorers who were on the expedition with him could not find him, and his remains went undiscovered for over 60 years.
Then in January this year, a Polish expedition team accidentally discovered what appeared to be human remains along with more than 200 personal items, including a wristwatch and a flashlight, on King George Island. The British Air Force transported the body for DNA testing, and comparisons with Bell's family in London confirmed it was his remains.
David, Bell's younger brother, who lives in Australia, said, "It's shocking and amazing. He was the eldest son and my hero."
Bell's remains were reportedly discovered as the glacier melted and receded. It is believed that his bones were scattered along the glacier's edge and surface.
Jane Francis, director of BAS, noted, "This is a heartbreaking yet profound moment for everyone associated with the institute," adding that "Bell was a brave individual who contributed to early Antarctic exploration and research in extremely difficult circumstances."