Xavier Mertz

From Freepedia

Xavier Mertz (1883–1912) was a Swiss explorer, principally famous for his adventures in the Antarctic.

He attempted to reach the South Magnetic Pole in 1911–1912, in the company of Douglas Mawson and Belgrave Ninnis. Unfortunately, Ninnis fell into a crevasse with the dog sled team and the majority of the expedition's supplies; the remaining two explorers turned back, attempting to reach their base camp. On the return journey Mertz died, and Mawson became severely ill, probably from vitamin A poisoning from eating husky liver.