Novice polar explorer froze to death as he hugged friend in bid to survive

 
“So missed”: Phil Goodeve-Docker trained hard for his polar expedition
John Dunne @jhdunne2 September 2013

A novice polar explorer desperately tried to stay alive by hugging his friend for warmth as they were “squeezed by two walls of snow” in an Arctic storm, an inquest heard today.

Phil Goodeve-Docker, 30, from Ealing, had been attempting a 370-mile unsupported charity walk across Greenland with friends Andy Norman and Roan Hackney when they were hit by a “white-out” and 160 mph winds two days into the 35-day expedition.

Team leader Mr Hackney told the inquest at Basingstoke coroner’s court that the trio sang songs and embraced each other in an attempt to stay alive, but Mr Goodeve-Docker was frozen to death in temperatures that dropped as low as minus 60-70C including the wind chill factor.

Mr Hackney said the team had set off on April 25 but within 48 hours were in trouble. He added: “The winds were escalating and so we set up camp. We had everything we needed to survive in a polar environment. It went from a moderate gale to extreme force, it came out of nowhere.”

He described how they kicked out at the sides of the tent to try to keep it secure as it was hit by the winds and snow started to crush it.

“A massive gust of wind punctured the side of the tent. We were being squeezed by two walls of snow,” he said.

Mr Hackney, an experienced expedition leader, told how he spent his birthday on April 27 struggling to survive.

He said: “It was an excruciating battle to stay alive. Phil and I remained partially entwined. We were just trying to survive from minute to minute.” But Mr Goodeve-Docker died before rescuers reached them on April 28.

His body was found upright and frozen stiff. The team had radioed for help, but it took rescue teams 24 hours to find them. Mr Norman, 33, a former IT professional, and Mr Hackney, 31, were treated in hospital for frostbite. Coroner Andrew Bradley recorded a verdict of death by misadventure and added: “Never was a verdict more appropriate.”

Mr Goodeve-Docker had dedicated the trip to the memory of his grandfather Patrick-Pirie-Gordon, a former vice-president of the Royal Geographical Society who died in 2011.

The inquest heard it was his first major trek and he had trained hard for the harsh conditions. His family, from Stockbridge in Hampshire, wrote in a Facebook tribute: “To our son, brother and friend, we are so glad you were on your adventure and expedition you had wanted to do for so long. You will be unbelievably missed.”

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