It is believed that Everest climber Irvine’s foot was found after 100 years

A foot believed to belong to a British climber who disappeared 100 years ago has been found on Mount Everest, a discovery that could solve one of mountaineering’s biggest mysteries.

Andrew Comyn “Sandy” Irvine was attempting to climb Mount Everest in June 1924 with companion George Mallory when they both disappeared. While his partner’s remains were eventually found, Irvine’s body was never discovered.

But last month, a group of climbers filming a National Geographic documentary tripped over their feet, which was found to be caused by melting ice on the glacier.

Famous explorer Jimmy Chin, who led the research team, hailed the discovery as a “monumental and emotional moment”.

Many people wondered whether his team would succeed in becoming the first people to summit Everest, 29 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit.

Over the years, several people have tried search for Irvine’s body as he was said to have carried a camera with undeveloped film, which would have proved that he and his climbing partner George Mallory were successful.

British authorities are currently verifying the identity of the foot using a DNA sample, according to a National Geographic report. The BBC has asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for comment.

But the film crew was pretty sure it belonged to Irvine, as the sock found inside the boot had “AC Irvine” embroidered on it.

“I mean, man… there’s a label on it,” Chin said.

The discovery was made when the team descended on the Rongbuk Central Glacier on Everest’s north face in September.

Along the way, they found an oxygen tank dated 1933. An Everest expedition that year found an item that belonged to Irvine.

Prompted by a possible sign that Irvine’s body might be nearby, the team searched the glacier for several days, before one of them saw the boot emerging from the melting ice.

It was a fortuitous location – they estimated the ice had only melted a week before it was discovered.

The foot was removed because of concerns that crows were bothering it, according to the report, and turned over to China’s mountaineering authority, which manages the north face of Everest.

Julie Summers, a descendant of Irvine, said in a statement that she was “moved to tears” when Mr. Chin told her about the discovery. “It was and remains an extraordinary and profound moment.”

“Sometimes in life, the greatest discoveries happen when you’re not even paying attention. This is 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 world of mountaineers in general,” said Chin, who is known for making the documentary of Oscar-winning rock climbing Free Solo, said.

When he disappeared at the age of 22, Irvine was the youngest member of an expedition that had intrigued the climbing world for a century.

The pair were last seen alive on June 8, 1924 as they made their way to the top.

Mallory’s body was not found until 1999 by an American climber. In recent decades, the search for the remains of climbers has sparked controversy amid suspicions that The body has been moved.