Polar Bear Attack Survivors Begin to Return to UK

Survivors of a polar bear attack on Spitsbergen island in Norway have begun to return home.

Scott Bennell-Smith, 17, from St Mellion in Cornwall and Patrick Flinders, 16, from Jersey have returned to England and are being treated in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth and Southampton Hospital respectively.

Trip leaders Michael "Spike" Reid, 29, from Plymouth, who shot the bear, and Andrew Ruck, 27, who lives in Edinburgh, remain in Hospital in Tromso, Norway.

Horatio Chapple, 17, died after being attacked by the bear.

Bennell-Smith returned to the UK with Flinders on Sunday. He is understood to have suffered a broken jaw and lost teeth after being struck across the face by the bear.

The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES), who organised the trip, have not said when the other two survivors will return to the UK. They said it depends on when transport authorities allow them to be moved.

The trip was due to run until August 28 but BSES are now working to bring all trip members home.

Kieran Earley, Scott's headmaster at Devonport High School for Boys, said that the incident must not prevent schools encouraging children to partake in these trips, describing the BSES trip as "well-organised".

"I think we understand that when you take part in these activities there is a certain amount of risk," he said. "As long as the risks are being taken with a certain amount of common sense and preparation, children should go out and do them."

He added: "I believe Scott was hit across the head by the bear and suffered a fractured jaw and lost some teeth.

"His family are extraordinarily relieved that he is back in the country and are catching up with him right now."

Flinders's father said that he had spoken to his son and that he appears to be "getting back to normal".

He added that he was worried the attack may have affect him psychologically. "His scars and all that could be fixed in six months' time but there's got to be some effect on him," he said.