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Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Went missing 66 years ago, British researcher's remains found in Antarctica as glacier melts
The remains of Dennis 'Tink' Bell, a British meteorologist who died in a tragic accident in Antarctica in 1959, have been discovered in a melting glacier on King George Island, more than six decades after his disappearance. Bell, who was working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey — now the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) — fell into a crevasse on the Ecology Glacier in July 1959, just weeks after his 25th birthday, according to the British Antarctic Survey. Despite desperate rescue attempts by his colleague Jeff Stokes, Bell was lost, and harsh weather prevented further recovery efforts. In January this year, a Polish research team from the Henryk Arctowski Antarctic Station found human remains along with more than 200 personal items, including ski poles, a Swedish Mora knife, a wristwatch, a radio, a torch, and an ebonite pipe stem. DNA testing at King's College London confirmed the remains belonged to Bell, the British Antarctic Survey added. The British Antarctic Survey quoted Bell's brother David, speaking from Australia. He said, 'When my sister Valerie and I were notified that our brother Dennis had been found after 66 years we were shocked and amazed.' David added, 'The British Antarctic Survey and British Antarctic Monument Trust have been a tremendous support and together with the sensitivity of the Polish team in bringing him home have helped us come to terms with the tragic loss of our brilliant brother.' Born in Harrow, north-west London, Bell had worked as a radio operator in the Royal Air Force (RAF) before joining the Antarctic survey in 1958. Known for his humour, resourcefulness, and love for husky dogs, he was responsible for meteorological observations, cooking duties, and mapping largely unexplored areas of King George Island. Director of the British Antarctic Survey Professor Dame Jane Francis called the confirmation of Bell's identity 'a poignant and profound moment', adding, 'Dennis was one of the many brave Fids personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions.' Bell's remains were transported to the Falkland Islands before being flown to London by the RAF. His family is now planning how to commemorate his life and service.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
British explorer who vanished in Antarctica in 1959 found in glacier 6 decades later
A 25-year-old British man who died in an accident in Antarctica in 1959 has been found 65 years later inside a melting glacier. The man, identified as Dennis Bell, had fallen into a crevasse while working for what is now known as the British Antarctic Survey. Dennis Bell (far right) celebrated Christmas at the British base in Antarctica in 1958.(British Antarctic Survey.) His remains were found next to a radio, a wristwatch and a pipe by a Polish Antarctic expedition in January. The discovery came as a shock to his family, including his brother, who had given up on ever finding his brother. "I had long given up on finding my brother. It is just remarkable, astonishing. I can't get over it," David Bell, 86, told BBC News. Professor Dame Jane Francis, director of the British Antarctic Survey, praised Bell as a brave member of the Antarctic exploration team who contributed to early science and the legacy of polar research. His brother recounted the moment they received the horrific news over six decades ago. "The telegram boy said, 'I'm sorry to tell you, but this is bad news'," he said. He went upstairs to tell his parents. "It was a horrendous moment," he added. Who was Dennis Bell? Dennis Bell, nicknamed "Tink," was born in 1934. He worked with the Royal Air Force while training as a meteorologist. In 1958, he joined the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey to work in Antarctica. On a two-year assignment at Admiralty Bay, with 12 men on King George Island, his job was to send up meteorological weather balloons and radio the reports to the UK every three hours. He died on a surveying trip when he fell through a crevasse. Attempts were made to rescue him. His partner, Jeff Stokes, dropped a rope to let him grab and be pulled out, but once he got to the top, it snapped, and he fell again. When Stokes called to him, he did not respond. Found 65 years later In January this year, a team of Polish researchers stumbled across bones on loose ice and rocks. Others were found on the glacier surface. As snow fell, they put a GPS marker to return later and bring their "fellow polar colleague" home. A team of scientists made four trips to collect the remains. Bell's brother will travel to England along with his sister to bury the remains. "I'm just sad my parents never got to see this day," he said "It's wonderful; I'm going to meet my brother. You might say we shouldn't be thrilled, but we are. He's been found - he's come home now."
See - Sada Elbalad
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Remains of Antarctic Researcher Dennis ‘Tink' Bell Found After 66 Years
Rana Atef The remains of British meteorologist Dennis 'Tink' Bell have been found in Antarctica, 66 years after he vanished in a crevasse accident. A Polish research team discovered the bones and personal items such as radio equipment, a wristwatch, and a pipe stem in rocks exposed by the retreating Ecology Glacier on King George Island. DNA testing by King's College London confirmed the identity, matching samples from Bell's surviving siblings. Bell, who was 25 years old at the time, was working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, which is now the British Antarctic Survey, when he fell through hidden ice while leading a dog sled team on 26 July 1959. A rescue attempt failed when his belt snapped as he was being hauled up. His body was never recovered until now. The remains were transported via the BAS ship Sir David Attenborough to the Falkland Islands, then flown to the UK. His family, 'shocked and amazed' by the discovery, say the find has brought long-awaited closure. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid Videos & Features Story behind Trending Jessica Radcliffe Death Video News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Record
Who was Dennis Bell as British researcher found frozen in Antarctica after 65 years
Bell's remains were discovered in a melting glacier, where he had been frozen since 1959. The body of a missing Brit has been discovered in the ice of Antarctica, 65 years after he disappeared. The remains of Dennis 'Tink' Bell were found in a melting glacier, where he had been frozen since 1959. Discovered in January by a Polish Antarctic expedition, the explorer's body was found alongside a watch, radio and a pipe. Bell had died at age 25 after falling into a crevasse while working for the organisation that is now known as the British Antarctic Survey. David Bell, Dennis' brother, told the BBC: "I had long given up on finding my brother. It is just remarkable, astonishing. I can't get over it." Professor Dame Jane Francis, director of the British Antarctic Survey, added: "Dennis was one of the many brave personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions. "Even though he was lost in 1959, his memory lived on among colleagues and in the legacy of polar research." But as the explorer and the incredible discovery of his body makes headlines, questions are rising on exactly who Dennis Bell was, and what he was doing out in the tundra. Here's everything you need to know about the explorer. Who was Dennis 'Tink' Bell? Nicknamed "Tink", Dennis Bell was born in 1934, and brought up in Harrow, north-west London. He worked with the RAF and trained as a meteorologist before joining the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, which brought him to Antarctica in 1958. Tink was stationed for two years at Admiralty Bay- a small UK base with about 12 men on King George Island. The base is roughly 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, and is still in use for scientific research today. What was Dennis Bell's job in Antarctica? Dennis was trusted with sending up meteorological weather balloons, before radioing the reports to the UK every three hours. He had to fire up a generator in sub-zero conditions to complete this task. He was also in charge of the food store over the winter when no supplies could reach the team on the extremely isolated island, and he was known by colleagues as the best cook in the hut. He was also known for his love of husky dogs, which were used to pull sledges around the island, and he raised two litters himself. Bell also helped to explore and survey King George Island to produce some of the first mapping of the mostly untouched stretch of land. How did Dennis Bell die? Bell died while on a surveying trip, just a few weeks after his 25th birthday. On July 26 1959, Dennis and colleague Jeff Stokes left the base to climb and survey a glacier. According to accounts in the British Antarctic Survey, the snow was deep and the dogs were tired. Dennis went on ahead alone to encourage the dogs, but he wasn't wearing his skis. He suddenly disappeared into a crevasse, leaving a hole behind him. According to the accounts, Jeff Stokes called into the depths and Dennis shouted back, grabbing onto a rope his colleague had lowered down. The dogs pulled on the rope and Dennis was hitched up to the lip of the hole, almost safe from the icy darkness beneath. However, he had tied the rope onto his belt, and as he reached the lip, the belt broke and he fell again. This time, when his friend shouted down, Dennis didn't reply. Since 1944, 29 people have died working on British Antarctic Territory on scientific missions, and just weeks before Dennis fell, another man on their team had died. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Malay Mail
12 hours ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
UK scientist's Antarctic remains found after 66 years, closing a frozen chapter
LONDON, Aug 12 — The remains of a British meteorologist who died in an Antarctic expedition in 1959 have been recovered six decades later from a glacier, the British Antarctic Survey said Monday. They were identified by DNA-testing as those of Dennis 'Tink' Bell, who died aged 25 when he was working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, which became the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the UK's polar research institute. Bell died on Admiralty Bay on King George Island, located 120 kilometres off the coast of Antarctica on July 26, 1959. He was stationed on the island for a two-year assignment at a small UK research base. Bell and three other men had set out to climb and survey a glacier, when he fell through a crevasse — a deep chasm in the ice. His body was never recovered. The remains, which were exposed by a receding glacier, were found on January 19 by a team from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station. 'This discovery brings closure to a decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science,' said BAS director Jane Francis. The bone fragments were carried to the Falkland Islands by the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, and then brought to London for DNA testing. Alongside his remains, the Polish team also found over 200 personal items including radio equipment, a flashlight, ski poles, an inscribed wristwatch and a Swedish-brand knife. Bell's brother David Bell, who lives in Australia, said the discovery after 66 years left him and his sister 'shocked and amazed'. 'Dennis was the oldest of three siblings and was my hero as he seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything,' said his brother. Francis said the confirmation of the remains 'is both a poignant and profound moment for all of us at British Antarctic Survey'. Bell 'was one of the many brave … personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions,' she added. — AFP
