Remains of tragic Everest climber Sandy Irvine 'found': A foot in a boot and a sock with his initials are discovered – 100 years after he disappeared with George Mallory near the summit of the world's highest mountain

The partial remains of tragic Mount Everest climber Andrew “Sandy” Irvine are believed to have been found – 100 years after his disappearance.

Irvine disappeared at the age of 22 with his climbing partner, famous mountaineer George Mallory, in June 1924 as they attempted to become the first people to climb the world's highest peak.

It is believed to be Irvine's foot stuck in his sock and boot. It was found on Everest's central Rongbuk Glacier, below the mountain's north face and at a lower altitude than where Mallory's remains were discovered in 1999.

Incredibly, Irvine's remains were identified by the name sewn into his sock: AC Irvine. His middle name was Comyn.

Irvine's family said in a statement that they were “deeply moved” to hear of the find.

Some experts believe Irvine and Mallory, 37, may have actually reached their destination before they perished, since they were last seen about 800 feet from the summit.

The partial remains of tragic Mount Everest climber Andrew “Sandy” Irvine are believed to have been found – 100 years after his disappearance. It is believed to be Irvine's foot stuck in his sock and boot. It was found on Everest's central Rongbuk Glacier, below the north face of the mountain. Irvine's remains were identified by the name sewn into his sock: AC Irvine

Irvine (left) disappeared in June 1924 at the age of 22 with his climbing partner, famous mountaineer George Mallory

A small team sent by National Geographic, including Oscar-winning director and climber Jimmy Chin and fellow climbers and filmmakers Erich Roepke and Mark Fisher, recently made the discovery, the magazine announced today.

The Daily Mail's original reporting on the deaths of Sandy Irvine and George Mallory

The remains are now owned by the China Tibet Mountaineering Association, the organization that issues permits for climbing the north side of Everest.

The find was reported to the Royal Geographical Society, the organization that organized Mallory and Irvine's original expedition along with the Alpine Club.

Irvine's family, which includes his great-niece and biographer Julie Summers, volunteered to compare the DNA test results with the remains to confirm that they belong to Irvine.

In 2021, author Mark Synnott speculated in his book The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest that Chinese climbers may have found Irvine's body and camera and then removed the evidence.

The couple was carrying a vest-pocket Kodak camera, which was never found. It may have contained crucial photos that proved the men had reached the summit of Everest.

Mallory's body was found in nail boots just 2,000 feet from the summit of Everest in 1999.

He had a rope around his waist and injuries that suggested he and Irvine may have fallen while tied together.

Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay are still considered the first mountaineers to reach the summit of the Himalayas, which lie between Nepal and China, during their 1953 expedition.

But if Mallory and Irvine had been the first to reach the summit of Everest, they would also have been the first to do so on the deadly North Face, nearly 40 years before Chinese climbers achieved the feat in 1960.

A statement from Irvine's family said: “The Irvine family is deeply moved to hear of the discovery of partial remains of Sandy Irvine.”

“We are grateful to the mountaineering and filming team led by Jimmy Chin who made the discovery and treated it with respect and professionalism.”

“We are pleased that the remains are now in the hands of the CTMA.”

“Sandy Irvine was the youngest member of the 1924 Mount Everest expedition and disappeared along with George Mallory on the upper slopes of the mountain when the two disappeared on June 8, 1924.”

The foot and boot were found on Everest's central Rongbuk Glacier, below the mountain's north face and at a lower elevation than where Mallory's remains were found in 1999

A small team including Oscar-winning director and climber Jimmy Chin and fellow climbers and filmmakers Erich Roepke and Mark Fisher recently made the discovery, National Geographic revealed today. Above: Mr Chin with what are believed to be the remains of Irvine

Irvine (top left) and Mallory (top row, second from left) are pictured with the other members of the 1924 Everest expedition

George Mallory is seen with Andrew Irvine at base camp in Nepal

Ms Summers said: “It is remarkable that this discovery was made in the 100th year of Sandy's disappearance.”

“I have lived with this story since I was seven years old when my father told us about the mystery of Uncle Sandy on Everest.”

She added: “When Jimmy told me that he saw the name AC Irvine on the label on the sock in the boot, I was moved to tears. “It was and remains an extraordinary and moving moment.”

Mr Chin said: “Any expedition to Everest follows in the shadow of Irvine and Mallory,” Chin said.

“We definitely did that. And sometimes in life the greatest discoveries happen without you looking.

“This was a monumental and emotional moment for us and our entire team on site, and we only hope that this can finally bring peace of mind to his relatives and the entire climbing world.”

Professor Joe Smith, Director of the Royal Geographical Society, said of the discovery: “As joint organizers of the 1924 Everest Expedition (along with the Alpine Club), the Society appreciates the respect shown by Jimmy Chin's team to the remains of Sandy Irvine “And their sensitivity to Sandy’s family members and others associated with this expedition.”

He added: “This discovery of his remains provides closure for his relatives and the wider mountaineering community and we are grateful to Jimmy and his team for making this possible and ensuring Sandy is in safe hands.”

“The Company will continue to stand by Jimmy, his team and Sandy’s extended family at what will inevitably be a period of intense global interest.”