British Meteorologist’s Antarctic Remains Found After 66 Years

The remains of Dennis “Tink” Bell, a 25-year-old British meteorologist who died in a crevasse accident in Antarctica in 1959, have been recovered over six decades later due to glacial melting. Bell, who worked for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (now the British Antarctic Survey), fell into a crevasse on King George Island during a scientific survey and was never recovered at the time. A Polish research team discovered his bones in January 2025, along with more than 200 personal items including a wristwatch, radio equipment, a Swedish Mora knife, ski poles, and a pipe. DNA testing confirmed the identity of the remains, bringing closure to Bell’s family, who had long given up hope of finding him. His remains were transported to the Falkland Islands and then to London, accompanied by His Majesty’s Coroner for the British Antarctic Territory, with the support of the Royal Air Force. Bell is remembered fondly by his family for his adventurous spirit and many talents, and his discovery has provided a profound sense of closure and reunion for his surviving siblings.