The "Destination Truth" TV channel's nine-member crew told reporters the fresh footprints were found on the banks of the Manju River near the base camp of Mount Qomolangma in the Khumbu region of the Himalayas, where Mount Everest is also located, various reports said.

Brad Kulham, the show's executive producer, said the sighting was unique as the crew was able to document the events as they occurred, Gorkhapatra reported. He said the footprint is just over a foot long with a toe span of over an inch.

"We are extremely excited about this sighting because we were able to document each step of the finding from the initial sighting of the prints to the casting of the prints to safely (bringing) it back," he was quoted as saying.

The feared Yeti in the Himalayan folklore is regarded as the protector of the massive mountain ranges. In the past too, there have been claims of sightings of the elusive creature.