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| British explorer dies after solo trek across Antarctica ends just short of goal | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A British explorer attempting the first unassisted solo crossing of Antarctica has died 71 days after setting out and within 30 miles from his goal, his wife said Monday. | |
| Henry Worsley, 55, had been suffering from increasing exhaustion and dehydration during the voyage, posting updates by satellite phone messages that began with optimism and ended in desperation. | |
| “This is just the best place on Earth right now,” he said on the first day of the trip in November. | “This is just the best place on Earth right now,” he said on the first day of the trip in November. |
| His final message Friday was both a call for help and cry of frustration. “It is with sadness that I report it is journey’s end — so close to my goal,” he said. | |
| Worsley was soon airlifted off the ice — after covering more than 900 miles — and died at a medical facility in Punta Arenas, Chile, his wife Joanna said. He was reported to be within 30 miles of completing the trek. | |
| Her statement described the cause of death as “complete organ failure.” He had undergone surgery for bacterial peritonitis, an infection in the abdomen that can lead to septic shock. | |
| [Alone on the ice] | [Alone on the ice] |
| Worsley, a former British military officer, pulled his own sled with food and supplies in an attempt to complete the projected route of famed adventurer Sir Ernest Shackleton a century ago. Shackleton’s ship became trapped in the ice off Antarctica in January 1915, leading to an epic rescue that included Shackleton and five others sailing a small boat 800 miles to reach help on South Georgia Island. | Worsley, a former British military officer, pulled his own sled with food and supplies in an attempt to complete the projected route of famed adventurer Sir Ernest Shackleton a century ago. Shackleton’s ship became trapped in the ice off Antarctica in January 1915, leading to an epic rescue that included Shackleton and five others sailing a small boat 800 miles to reach help on South Georgia Island. |
| Worsley had expected his journey to take between 75 and 80 days — which would have been the first without assistance from sled dogs or other support such as airdrops. | Worsley had expected his journey to take between 75 and 80 days — which would have been the first without assistance from sled dogs or other support such as airdrops. |
| On Friday, with his voice still strong but tinged with sorrow, he posted an audio message saying he could no longer continue. | On Friday, with his voice still strong but tinged with sorrow, he posted an audio message saying he could no longer continue. |
| “My journey is at an end,” he said. “I have run out of time . . . the sheer ability to slide one ski in front of the other to travel the distance required to reach my goal.” | “My journey is at an end,” he said. “I have run out of time . . . the sheer ability to slide one ski in front of the other to travel the distance required to reach my goal.” |
| He sought to raise money for a fund to assist injured and ailing military personnel. | He sought to raise money for a fund to assist injured and ailing military personnel. |
| Worsley had noted his fascination with early polar explorers, including Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who in 1911 became the first person to reach the South Pole. But Shackleton had a special significance for Worsley, who came across a photo of the failed expedition as a boy. | Worsley had noted his fascination with early polar explorers, including Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who in 1911 became the first person to reach the South Pole. But Shackleton had a special significance for Worsley, who came across a photo of the failed expedition as a boy. |
| “That fired my imagination,” he told the podcast Inspiring Adventurer. | “That fired my imagination,” he told the podcast Inspiring Adventurer. |
| In the winter of 1915, Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, became trapped in an ice floe in the Weddell Sea. For more than nine months, the 28-person crew stayed aboard the immobilized boat, which was later crushed by the ice and sank. | In the winter of 1915, Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, became trapped in an ice floe in the Weddell Sea. For more than nine months, the 28-person crew stayed aboard the immobilized boat, which was later crushed by the ice and sank. |
| As their rations dwindled, he brought his men to nearby Elephant Island, then embarked on a trip across open ocean in a tiny lifeboat to seek help. | As their rations dwindled, he brought his men to nearby Elephant Island, then embarked on a trip across open ocean in a tiny lifeboat to seek help. |
| Twenty months after their ship was first caught in the ice, the entire crew of the Endurance landed in Punta Arenas battered but miraculously alive. | Twenty months after their ship was first caught in the ice, the entire crew of the Endurance landed in Punta Arenas battered but miraculously alive. |
| “Shackleton and his style of leadership became an important part of my character,” Worsley told Inspiring Adventurer. | “Shackleton and his style of leadership became an important part of my character,” Worsley told Inspiring Adventurer. |
| Prince William, who helped back Worsley’s expedition, said he and his brother, Prince Harry, “were incredibly proud to be associated with him.” | |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |