Michael Reid, a British Exploring expedition leader, was speaking at the inquest into the death of Horatio Chapple which is currently being held in Salisbury. Mr Chapple was killed when the 250 kg predator attacked during a trip to the Svalbard Islands in Norway.

Former Haute Vallée student Patrick Flinders had been sharing a tent with Mr Chapple at the time of the attack and was seriously injured in the incident.

Full report in Wednesday’s JEP.

The polar bear was shot and killed by one of the expedition leaders