Dennis “Tink” Bell has been found.
Over six decades after the meteorologist died while on an expedition off the Antarctic Peninsula, his body was recovered by personnel from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station, the British Antarctic Survey shared in an Aug. 11 press release.
“The remains of an Antarctic researcher have been discovered by a Polish team among rocks exposed by a receding glacier in Antarctica,” the research institute shared, adding that Bell had “died in a crevasse on a glacier” on July 26, 1959.
Along with finding the 25-year-old’s body on Jan. 19, the team also recovered over 200 personal items, including radio equipment, ski poles, an inscribed wristwatch and a small knife.
Dennis, who was stationed on King George Island with 12 other men for two years, was on his way to conduct geological work on a glacier with surveyor Jeff Stokes and sled dogs, according to the announcement. As the pair made their ascent, they thought they had cleared a crack in the formation. When Dennis urged their dogs forward—who became tired after trudging through deep, soft snow—he fell into a gaping hole.
Former director of the BAS Vivienn Fuches detailed the incident in his book Of Ice and Men, per the release, in which he shared that Jeff was relieved to hear Dennis call back to him after the drop. Jeff threw a rope down the crevasse, which Dennis tied to his belt instead of his body. When he was finally pulled to the top with the help of the dogs, his belt broke and he fell down the crack again. This time, however, he didn’t respond to Jeff’s calls.
When Jeff met up with meteorologist Ken Gibson and geologist Colin Barton, they climbed back to the crevasse, although the weather had only gotten worse. Even so, they tried to find Dennis. However, Ken recalled in the novel, “It was probably twelve hours before we found the site and there was no way he could have survived.”
Meanwhile, Dennis’ younger brother David Bell was in shock when he learned the scientist had been found 65 years after his death.
“I had long given up on finding my brother,” the 86-year-old admitted to BBC News. “It is just remarkable, astonishing. I can’t get over it.”
He reflected on his relationship with Dennis, whom he described as “fantastic company.”
David added, “He was very amusing. The life and soul of wherever he happened to be.”
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