Shackleton’s Epic Escape From Antarctic 100 Years Ago Is Being ‘Live Tweeted’ On Twitter

To celebrate the centenary of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s epic Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, the extraordinary adventure is being ‘live-tweeted’ in the words of the man himself.

The most hazardous stage of the escape, which began on 7 April, is being re-told day-by-day on Twitter.

Shackleton and his 27-man crew were left stranded when their ship - Endurance - was consumed by ice, thwarting their attempt to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent.

Instead, the crew were forced to flee, finally landing at Stormness whaling station on 20 May 1916.

Shackleton as young man (Frank Hurley/Scott Polar Research Institute/Royal Geographical Society)

Their harrowing fight for survival is widely considered to be one of the most epic feats of endurance ever undertaken.

The Twitter recreation is the work of clothing firm The Shackleton Company which sells garments inspired by the explorer’s four expeditions.

The tweets are largely taken from Shackleton’s published account of the dangerous escape along with additional input from documents and photos from the Scott Polar Research Institute and The Royal Geographic Society, plus a touch of artistic licence.

The Endurance, trapped in the ice (Frank Hurley/Scott Polar Research Institute/Royal Geographical Society)

The adventure can be followed on Twitter at @TheShackletonCo and using the hashtag #Shackleton.

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s only granddaughter, the Honorable Alexandra Shackleton, said: “I am delighted that the extraordinary achievements of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew, 100 years ago, will be brought to life using social media and retold to a new audience.

“The story of their survival has been an inspiration to many over the years and will continue to be so for generations to come.”

Image credit: Frank Hurley/Scott Polar Research Institute/Royal Geographical Society