Mummies Found Frozen in Glacier Could Be Climbers Who Went Missing 55 Years Ago John Jones - Express UK
go to original March 9, 2015

Two mummified bodies found entombed in ice at Mexico's highest mountain could be two climbers from a group who went missing there in 1959.

The eerie remains emerged when a mummified skull was found about 1,000 metres from the summit if Pico de Orizaba. A second body was then found nearby.

Initially, only a head and a hand could be seen sticking out of the snow and ice. But on Thursday, they excavated further and discovered the hand actually belonged to another body that appeared to be embracing the first corpse.

The frozen bodies, one with clenched fists and a horrified expression, could be two of three Mexicans who disappeared after an avalanche struck 55 years ago, according to local officials. But the grim discovery has prompted families in Spain and Germany, whose loved ones were also lost on the mouton to contact mountain rangers in the hope they have finally found their relatives' remains.

The skull and hand were seen poking out of a glacier 5,270 metres up the volcano by climbers, then 12 local civil protection mountaineers who carried out a search discovered the second body.

Juan Navarro, mayor of nearest town, Chalchicomula de Sesma, said that clothing found on the mummies will help identify them, but DNA tests will take place.

But due to bad weather conditions the bodies have not yet been able to be removed from the mountainside.

Read the rest at Express UK

Related: Rescue Team Exposes the Risk of Retrieving Mummified Climbers (El Universal)

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