Human foot found on Everest may hold key to one of mountaineering's greatest mysteries

A woollen sock labeled with 'A.C. Irvine' has provided a significant clue to the disappearance of British climber Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine, who vanished on Everest in 1924. He and his companion disappeared 800 feet below the summit, and it remains uncertain if they reached the top before their demise. Although Mallory's body was found in 1999, Irvine's body and the climbers' camera remain missing. The sock is considered the first tangible evidence of Irvine's possible location.

The discovery rekindled hope for understanding Irvine's fate among the climbing community and his family. A team had earlier found an oxygen cylinder from a 1933 expedition and an ice ax linked to Irvine, prompting them to search the area where they discovered the sock. Upon spotting Irvine's boot, the team removed it due to the presence of birds and transferred it to the China-Tibet Mountaineering Association.

Irvine, only 22 at the time of his disappearance, left behind a family eager for closure. The family, particularly a great-niece who has documented Irvine’s story, expressed deep emotion upon learning about the recent discovery. The unearthed items provide a glimmer of insight into a long-standing mystery about his fate on Mount Everest.