Body of Legendary Mount Everest Climber Reportedly Found by Film Crew, Could Solve Century-Old Mystery

A decades-old mystery surrounding a missing Mount Everest climber may finally come to a close, thanks to a National Geographic documentary team's most recent discovery.

In 1924, British climbers Andrew Irvine and George Mallory set out on an expedition to be the first to summit the peak. However, both men went missing just 800 feet from the top of Everest, according to Manchester Evening News.

Mallory's body was the first to be found in 1999, leaving Irvine undiscovered for decades. Now, due to recent changes spurred by climate change, the thinning ice and snow allowed the team to discover who is believed to be Irvine.

The team first discovered a boot and sock labeled "A.C. IRVINE" on the Central Rongbuk Glacier. Climbers, historians, and Irvine's family are hopeful that this discovery may clarify a century-old mystery.

"Sometimes in life, the greatest discoveries occur when you aren't even looking," said Jimmy Chin, a climbing team member and National Geographic Explorer, according to the outlet. "This was a monumental and emotional moment for us and our entire team on the ground, and we just hope this can finally bring peace of mind to his relatives and the climbing world at large."

The Irvine family has offered DNA samples to help confirm the identity of the remains. Investigations are ongoing as experts analyze the findings and wait for the test results.