Tributes paid as Antarctic explorer Henry Worsley dies

Tributes have been paid to Antarctic explorer Henry Worsley who died in Chile at the weekend.

The 55-year-old former British army officer from Fulham, southwest London, was just 48km from becoming the first adventurer to cross Antarctica unsupported and unassisted when he had to call for help.

He was airlifted off the ice on Friday and flown to a hospital in Punta Arenas in Chile, where he was found to have bacterial peritonitis. He underwent surgery but died on Sunday.

In a last message posted online on Friday, he said: “My summit is just out of reach.”

He said his spirits had been lifted by the generosity of the public in the past two months, saying the support had been “incredible”, but added: “My journey is at an end. I have run out of time, physical endurance and the simple sheer inability to slide one ski in front of the other to travel the distance required to reach my goal.”

Mr Worsley was trying to complete the unfinished journey of Sir Ernest Shackleton to mark the 100th anniversary of Shackleton's expedition. The trek was raising money for the Endeavour Fund, a charity which helps wounded British servicemen and women and is managed by the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

When Mr Worsley’s death was announced on Monday the expedition had raised just over £100,000 (€131,000), but the figure has since risen to more than £150,000, including gift aid.

Prince William, who was patron of the expedition, said he and Harry had lost a friend as he paid tribute to Mr Worsley’s “selfless commitment” to fellow soldiers.

Adventurers Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle described their devastation at hearing the news.

The former-lieutenant colonel was 71 days into his expedition, had passed the South Pole and covered 1,469km.

Exhaustion

After spending two days unable to move from his tent, he decided to pull out of the adventure after suffering from exhaustion and severe dehydration.

His wife Joanna, who flew to be by his side, said in a statement: “It is with heartbroken sadness I let you know that my husband, Henry Worsley, has died following complete organ failure; despite all efforts of ALE [Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions] and medical staff at the Clinica Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile.”

“Henry achieved his Shackleton Solo goals of raising over £100,000 for the Endeavour Fund, to help his wounded colleagues, and so nearly completing the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic landmass,” she said.

Peritonitis occurs when the thin layer of tissue lining of the abdomen becomes infected. Symptoms can include swelling of the abdomen, vomiting, chills, lack of appetite and a high temperature. Complications include sepsis and septic shock.

In his final statement sent from Antarctica, Mr Worsley described how his desire to help wounded soldiers with their rehabilitation was the central focus of his expedition, but that he had taken the decision to call for help.

“The 71 days alone on the Antarctic with over 900 statute miles covered and a gradual grinding down of my physical endurance finally took its toll today, and it is with sadness that I report it is journey’s end – so close to my goal,” he said.

PA