Patrick Flinders, one of the survivors of the polar bear attack in Norway had to have some of the bear’s teeth surgically removed from his skull, it was revealed today.
The 16-year-old from Jersey flew back to the UK last night with a fellow survivor Scott Bennell-Smith, 16, from Cornwall.
Flinders was originally treated in in Tromso along with the other three survivors before being medi-vacced to Southampton
Flinders suffered a fractured skull as he fought off the bear during the attack. Patrick's father Terry Flinders explained how his son had "tried to jump on it and smash the polar bear's nose" when the starving animal charged the boys in their tent.
"Scott apparently tried to shoot the bear, which then "went for Patrick, he bit his arm and then just swiped his face and top of his head. And then the same with Scottie," Flinders said.
"I told him 'you're a hero here mate, the way you attacked that bear", he added.
Horatio Chapple, 17 was killed in Friday's attack.
Expedition leaders Reid, 29, from Plymouth and Andrew Ruck, 27, from Edinburgh, also sustained severe injuries in
the attack.
Reid shot the bear dead, but not before being mauled himself.
The teenagers were travelling as part of a scientific adventure trip organised by The British Schools Exploring Society, a youth development charity when the attack happened on on Spitsbergen island, Norway.
On Saturday the charity cancelled the expedition which was originally due to finish on August 28.
Polar Bear that killed teen was starving
