The seal probably perished due to the car not being used regularly or on long enough journeys to get up to temperature judging by the mileage ?
All engines need to get up to operating temperatures fully, and for a reasonably lengthy time otherwise they can suffer all kinds of problems as they never get to run at their optimal.
It seems to me the seal has never had the opportunity to go through several heat / cool down cycles to 'bed it in' so to speak, and just got brittle and perished away.
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