• Explorer Henry Worsley dies in solo Antarctic crossing
    8 replies, posted
[QUOTE]Explorer Henry Worsley has died after suffering exhaustion and dehydration as he tried to cross Antarctica unaided. The ex-Army officer, from London, had been rescued 30 miles shy of his goal. His wife Joanna said she felt "heartbroken sadness" after he died of "complete organ failure". Mr Worsley, 55, was trying to complete the unfinished journey of his hero, Sir Ernest Shackleton, 100 years later, but in his final audio message, he said: "My summit is just out of reach." In that last broadcast, sent from Antarctica on Friday, he told supporters: "When my hero, Ernest Shackleton, was 97 miles from the South Pole on the morning of January the 9th 1909, he said he'd shot his bolt. "Well today I have to inform you with some sadness that I too have shot my bolt." Mr Worsley said his journey had ended because he did not have the ability to "slide one ski in front of the other". "I will lick my wounds, they will heal over time and I will come to terms with the disappointment," he added. Mr Worsley began the 1,100-mile (1,770km) coast-to-coast trek in November, pulling a sledge containing his food, tent and equipment. The plan was to cross the continent "unassisted and unsupported" - with no supply drops or help from dogs or any other source. The first solo and unsupported crossing of the continent was achieved by Norwegian Borge Ousland in 1997. But Mr Worsley's record attempt differed as Mr Ousland used a kite to help drag his supply sled. British explorer Felicity Aston became the first woman to cross the Antarctic alone in January 2012 but she had supply drops.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35398552[/url] [IMG]http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/1621B/production/_87915609_henry_worsley_antarctica_624_v2.png[/IMG]
That is sad to hear. I am glad he was at least recovered so his family can pay proper respects.
Wow, and he was so close too.
Must of gotten something similar to what mountain climbers get when they are near the summit They get tunnel vision towards their goal and push themselves farther than they should and end up dying Sad that this had to happen, was so close
Such a shame he didn't make it. But huge huge respect to the guy for attempting this feat with such courage. It really also adds merit to Sir Ernest Shackleton's achievement of this 100 years ago.
[QUOTE=Cypher_09;49604632]Sir Ernest Shackleton[/QUOTE] That might just be the most English last name I've ever heard of.
[QUOTE=Mining Bill;49604847]That might just be the most English last name I've ever heard of.[/QUOTE] It sounds absolutely smashing.
[QUOTE=Potus;49604542]Must of gotten something similar to what mountain climbers get when they are near the summit They get tunnel vision towards their goal and push themselves farther than they should and end up dying Sad that this had to happen, was so close[/QUOTE] [quote]Mr Worsley said his journey had ended because he did not have the ability to "slide one ski in front of the other".[/quote] Yeah really sounds like that's what happened if he said the equivalent of the saying "put one foot in front of the other" on his recording.
[QUOTE=Cypher_09;49604632]Such a shame he didn't make it. But huge huge respect to the guy for attempting this feat with such courage. It really also adds merit to Sir Ernest Shackleton's achievement of this 100 years ago.[/QUOTE] What's always been genuinely stunning to me about that expedition is that they got every last person home alive.
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