A search for Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, lost in the icy floes of the Antarctic in 1915, has been called off after a piece of equipment critical to the search was also lost.
After months of trying to survive in extreme conditions when they continued their journey on foot, many of Shackleton's crew almost lost their sanity and their lives, and even members of this latest salvage operation admitted that they'd either lost their minds or their marbles.
Scientists were using a robot called an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) to scour the seabed of the Weddell Sea for signs of Endurance, but, just as it was completing its 30-hour mission, contact with the AUV, itself, was lost.
One of the team, Captain Rob Scott, said:
"We were hopeful that we might be able to locate the ship, but, after this disaster with the AUV, I believe all hope is now lost."
He went on:
"We've put lots of work into this project over the last few months, and I commend all of my team for their exhaustive efforts, but, on a personal basis, my patience is now lost."
One of the UK-led expedition's crew, Ronald Mundsen, told us later:
"I had a £10 wager with one of the lads. I was confident we'd find the Endurance, but, clearly, that's a tenner I've lost!"
Ernest Shackleton would have been 145, tomorrow. Happy Birthday, Shack!
