London: A British adventurer has died after suffering exhaustion and dehydration while attempting to cross the Antarctic alone. Former army officer Henry Worsley was just 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the end of the almost 1,000-mile (1,600 kilometer) trek when he called for help and was airlifted off the ice Friday.

A file picture of Henry Worsley (R) with Prince William. Pic/AFP

His family said yesterday that Worsley died "following complete organ failure" at a clinic in Punta Arenas, Chile. The 55-year-old Worsley covered more than 900 miles in 71 days, pulling supplies on a sled, while attempting to complete Ernest Shackleton’s unfinished South Pole expedition of a century ago.

Worsley’s wife Joanna said the expedition had raised more than 100,000 pounds (USD 140,000) for wounded troops.

Prince William, patron of the expedition, said he and brother Prince Harry had lost a friend.