Mummified corpses of three climbers found on Mexican volcano

Eerie photographs have emerged of three corpses, mummified and found lying beneath the snow on Mexico’s highest volcano.

The bodies of three people, presumably killed during an avalanche on Mexico’s highest peak, have been found mummified in ice. Picture: CEN/australscope

The mummified bodies of three climbers, who went missing 59 years ago on Mexico’s highest volcano, have been recovered by an army unit.

The three bodies were found on the Pico de Orizaba volcano, the highest peak in Mexico at 5610m above sea level, located in the states of Veracruz and Puebla.

DNA testing will now be used to officially identify the bodies. Picture: CEN/australscope

Local media reported that the bodies were first found in 2015 but attempts to recover the corpses had been unsuccessful until now.

The army unit in charge of the rescue mission was the Escuadron 303 unit.

Commander of Escuadron, Jose Luis Pablo, told local television channel Foro TV: “We are satisfied with achieving our mission.”

Poor weather conditions had initially made it difficult for the helicopter to recover the bodies, which were located near the peak of the mountain, but a second recovery attempt on the same day was successful.

The case made international headlines on March 1, 2015 when a group of climbers came across the mummified bodies near the peak.

One of the mummified bodies believed to have been buried by an avalanche in 1959. Picture: CEN/australscope

Luis Espinosa, an 81-year-old climber, claimed that the bodies belonged to three of his climbing buddies who were buried by an avalanche during an expedition in 1959.

The three climbers were the only ones reported missing in the avalanche and Mr Espinosa claimed to recognise one of their shirts and a ring with one of their initials.

According to Mr Espinosa, two of the rescued bodies belong to Enrique Garcia Romero and Juan Espinosa Camargo, both of whom have living relatives.

It is believed the third body belongs to Manuel Campos Reyes, who reports suggest has no living relatives.

DNA testing will now be used to officially identify the bodies, according to reports.

Poor weather conditions made it difficult for search teams to recover the bodies until now. Picture: CEN/australscope

Mr Espinosa said he had previously attempted to recover the bodies of his friends.

“We knew where the bodies were. In 2016 I sent a specialist expedition and we checked that there were three bodies,” Mr Espinosa said.

“Thanks to a ring, we knew they were my three friends, because of a ring bearing the initials of Juan Espinosa Camargo.”

He added: “It is a relief because this feeling of not being able to save and recover them was a continuous concern for me.

“Today I was released from them, rest in peace.”

The three bodies are currently under the care of prosecutors who are working to officially identify them.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission