UK adventurer Henry Worsley has died while trying to make history by crossing Antarctica alone on a trip supported by members of the British royal family.

Former army officer Worsley, 55, was just 48 kilometers from the end of his journey when he called for help and was airlifted to a hospital in Chile on Friday suffering from exhaustion and dehydration.

"It is with heartbroken sadness that I let you know that my husband, Henry Worsley, has died following complete organ failure," his wife Joanna said in a statement on Monday.

In his final statement from the expedition, Worsley expressed his dismay at having to pull out so close to the end after covering almost 1,500 km on foot, dragging his equipment on a sledge.

"My journey is at an end. I have run out of time, physical endurance and (have) a simple sheer inability to slide one ski in front of the other," he said in an audio message, sounding exhausted but not afraid.

"Many mountaineers battle away and fail to reach the summit. My summit is just out of reach," he added.

His wife said Worsley had raised $143,000 for the Endeavour Fund, a charity to help wounded military veterans that is backed by Prince William, his wife Kate and brother Prince Harry.

William said he and his brother had lost a friend. "We are incredibly proud to be associated with him," he said.

A father of two from London, Worsley had hoped to become the first man to cross Antarctica solo and without assistance.

That feat was left unfinished a century ago by explorer Ernest Shackleton, whom Worsley described as his hero.

Worsley was 71 days into his attempt when he called for help. Another British explorer, Ranulph Fiennes, dropped out of a similar charity trek in 2013.

AFP - AP