Latest news with #PolishAntarctic
Hindustan Times
12-08-2025
- 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."
Daily Record
12-08-2025
- 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'.
