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A courageous and altruistic friend of the royals recently passed away during an epic charity-raising mission in Antarctica. Prince William and Prince Harry are mourning the loss of SAS officer Henry Worsley, a good friend of theirs who died from organ failure while trekking across Antarctica.
Worsley, 55, was a British army officer who, over the years, raised more than £100,000 for Prince Will's charity the Endeavor Fund. On behalf of the army, his latest mission was the Shackleton Solo expedition, in which he set out on foot, unaided, to trek 913 miles across Antarctica in order to raise money for the prince's charity.
Just 30 miles away from the finish line, Worsley reportedly collapsed and suffered from an acute bacterial infection, which resulted in organ failure. He wasn't able to leave his tent, but called for emergency assistance. Sadly, even after he was airlifted to a hospital in Chile, he died yesterday afternoon, leaving behind his wife Joanna.
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William released a statement, expressing his feelings about the loss:
Harry and I are sad to hear of the loss of Henry Worsley. He was a man who showed great courage and determination and we are incredibly proud to be associated with him. Even after retiring from the Army, Henry continued to show selfless commitment to his fellow servicemen and women, by undertaking this extraordinary Shackleton Solo expedition on their behalf. We have lost a friend, but he will remain a source of inspiration to us all, especially those who will benefit from his support to the Endeavor Fund. We will now make sure that his family receive the support they need at this terribly difficult time.
Thanks to Henry's extreme efforts, he raised a great deal of money that will go toward helping wounded soldiers, a cause that is near and dear to the hearts of both William and Harry. Henry was too young to die, but his family can be proud of the fact that he spent his last moments on earth helping others and serving as an inspiration, thanks to his unbelievable bravery and strength.
Image via Andy Stenning/Mirrorpix/Splash News
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