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A young British explorer has frozen to death after being caught in a severe storm at the start of a trek across the Arctic.

Philip Goodeve-Docker, 30, died when the tent he was sharing with two companions blew down on a glacier in Greenland.

The trio were caught up in a storm known as a ‘Piteraq’ just two days into their 30 day, 400 mile unsupported trek across the glacier.

According to local police, they radioed for help on Friday but rescuers could not reach their position until early on Saturday morning.

When a helicopter reached their position around 120 miles onto the ice-shelf, Mr Goodeve-Docker was already dead.

His fellow explorers Andy Norman, 33, and Roan Hackney, suffered frostbite and shock.

(Image: Facebook)

Chief Inspector Paul Pitersen of the Greenland Police, who led the rescue, said: “By the time we got to them Mr Goodeve-Docker had frozen to death.

“It seems that they were caught up in a severe storm which is known here as a Piteraq, with strong winds and snow.

“It is quite rare but can happen at this time of year on the glacier. Their tent was blown partially away and they were exposed.

“One of the men said they thought Mr Goodeve-Docker had probably died during the night.

“The other men are okay and are on their way back to the UK.

“One has frostbite on his fingers and the other is suffering from shock, but they will both recover.

“They were very unlucky. They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Mr Goodeve-Docker’s family later confirmed that he had died in a short statement released on Facebook.

It read: “We wanted to let everyone know that on Sunday morning we had a phone call to confirm that Philip sadly died.

“To our son, brother and friend, we are so glad that you were on your adventure and expedition that you had wanted to do for so long.

“You will be unbelievably missed and your memory cherished. Xx”

A family spokesman added: “The family are devastated and numbed at the loss of Philip.

“He was having the biggest adventure of his life for which he had been training over the last 18 months. He will be hugely missed.”

Mr Goodeve-Docker, an events manager from Ealing, west London, had set off onto the glacier with his two pals last Thursday after being delayed for almost a week by bad weather.

Writing on Facebook before his departure, Mr Goodeve-Docker said: “On the 19th April 2013 (having left on the 16th April) I will be in Greenland preparing to cross the 2nd largest icecap in world.

“For the next 30-35 days a 3 man team, including myself, fellow adventurer Andy Norman, and led by my polar explorer friend Roan Hackney, will attempt to cross Greenland’s icesheet unsupported (www.greenlandcrossing2013.com).

“We will travel 550-600km across one of the most dazzling, beautiful, yet barren and deadly landscapes in the world, dragging all our own supplies (between 100-135kg) on individual pulks (sleds).

“This is one of the great polar challenges, through which we face such dangers as polar bears (not cute and cuddly), crevasses up to 500+metres deep, polar winds, temperatures of 5C to -50C, plus the horror of 3 men with one tent & no washing.”

Mr Goodeve-Docker was following in the footsteps of his grand-father Patrick Pirie-Gordon who was a former Vice-President of the Royal Geographical Society and supporter of polar exploration.

His fellow explorer Andy Norman, is from Easthampstead, Bracknell, Berkshire.

Roan Hackney, from London, was the most experienced member of the team who was raising money for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity.

The trio left the UK on April 16 and flew to Reykjavic in Iceland.

The party was helicoptered to the outpost of Angmagsslik on Greenland’s eastern coast and 70 miles south of the Arctic circle on April 18.

The group then had to wait as strong winds and blizzards delayed their final helicopter flight onto the island’s vast ice-cap until last Thursday (April 25)

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The Foreign Office is aware of reports that three British nationals were in difficulty during an expedition in Greenland and have been rescued by the authorities.

“Sadly one of them has died.”