Polar Bear Victim Was 'Fearless' - Family
Updated: 7:37pm UK, Saturday 06 August 2011
A British teenager mauled to death by a polar bear in Norway has been described by his family as "strong, fearless and kind".
Horatio Chapple, 17, from near Salisbury in Wiltshire, was killed while camping with the British Schools Exploring Society in the country's remote northern Svalbard archipelago.
A statement issued by his family said: "Horatio was so excited about his plans to be a doctor, strong, fearless and kind with an amazing sense of humour and an ability to laugh at himself.
"He was on the cusp of adulthood and had a clear vision of where his life was going."
Four other group members were badly injured - the group's leaders Michael Reid and Andrew Ruck along with two of the participants in the trip, Patrick Flinders and Scott Bennell-Smith.
But officials told a press conference all four had undergone surgery to treat head injuries and were now well enough to be transferred back to hospitals the UK.
It is understood the bear will now be forensically examined to try to determine the cause of the attack.
A series of emotional tributes to Mr Chapple having been pouring in on a special page set up on social networking site Facebook.
One post, from a Magnus England Chapple said: "You were the best brother and still are. I love you and rest in peace."
Another, from Harry Cunliffe, one of Mr Chapple's godparents, said: "Horatio, I will miss your smile, your impish grin, your sensitivity, your graciousness and your genuine care and interest in others.
"Your sense of adventure, your hard work, commitment and determination have been inspiring to me."
The chairman of BSES, Edward Watson, also paid tribute to Mr Chapple.
He said: "Horatio was a fine young man, hoping to go on to read medicine after school. By all accounts he would've made an excellent doctor."
Horatio's grandfather, Sir John Chapple, 80, was the head of the Army from 1989 to 1992, the former governor of Gibraltar and the former president of the BSES.
Mr Reid, who is a member of staff at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), was leading the group as part of his summer break and is thought to have shot the bear.
His father, Peter Reid, 65, from Plymouth, said: "He told us the bear attacked the tent with three people in it, and he and another leader went to help and were viciously attacked by the bear.
"He managed to get away, ran to get a gun and shot the bear."
He added: "The other members of the group wanted to know how Spike was, and they said he was very, very brave."
An RGS spokesman told Sky News: "He is a member of staff however his role in the BSES expedition is not connected with his employment at the (RGS).
"Mr Reid's involvement with BSES was a personal undertaking in his own time and he joined the BSES expedition this summer using his holiday time allowance."
The group was attacked while on a trip near Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard islands, and were part of a larger group of around 80 people.
The BSES's Mr Watson added: "We and the Norwegian authorities are currently establishing the full circumstances of his tragic death and will not be releasing this until we have discussed it with the family."
He later said the expedition had been called off and all members would be brought home.
"This tragic incident has affected everyone involved and we believe ending the expedition is the appropriate decision to make," he said.
The victims were staying in a campsite containing 13 people which was attacked by the bear.
A helicopter photographed shocked survivors at the site, in an area covered by glacial rubble, where tents were pinned down by large rocks.
In an interview with ITV Channel Television Patrick Flinders said he was inspired by the BSES to make the trip after they gave a talk at his school.
Mr Flinders, from Jersey, tried to fend off the bear but was injured when it lashed out.
"It was an organised group. They had a camp set up and this attack happened in the camp," he said.
A spokeswoman for the governor of Svalbard said explorers usually set up trip wires which fires off a rocket if animals enter the camp.
British ambassador to Norway, Jane Owen, said the group had taken adequate precautions to minimise risks and increase safety.
The attack took place near the Von Post glacier and it is believed the expedition group undertook firearm training prior to the incident.
After the attack the group alerted authorities by a satellite phone.
The deputy governor Lars Erik Alfheim told Sky News: "We deployed a helicopter with medical and police personnel, upon arrival one person was declared dead and four people injured.
The injured are being treated at University hospital in Tromso, and the British ambassador has travelled to the area.
The trip which began on July 23, was due to continue until August 28.
Kyle Gouveia returned early from the trip due to frost-nip.
Speaking to Sky News, he described the group as a "friendly bunch" and said he had not seen any polar bears on the trip.
In a statement, Norwegian authorities said the bear, which weighed 250kg, had been shot dead before it was transported back to a nearby base.
Earlier this year the governor of Svalbard issued a warning about the animals after several were spotted close to Longyearbyen, the nearest major town.
:: If you are concerned about a relative's safety you can call +47 7902 4305 or +47 7902 4302
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