The Bear Face Cheek! Tourist Attacked By Polar Bear

The victim was mauled on the face and arm; the bear was shot dead.

14:36 20 March 2015

A polar bear has attached a tourist on Norwegian Arctic island of Svalbard where thousands of people are planning to watch the solar eclipse on Friday. The victim, who was mauled on the face and arm was flown by helicopter to hospital after the bear was shot dead. 

 

The victim, who is a part of a group of six on a snowscooter and skiing tour, suffered injuries to the face and arm but is out of danger. 

 

The Norwegian Arctic islands of Svalbard, about 800 miles (1,300 km) from the North Pole, and the Faroe Islands to the south, are the only places where the moon can be seen totally blocking the sun. Meanwhile, a partial eclipse will be visible across parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia. 

 

Ronny Brunvoll, head of the Visit Svalbard organisation, said that there’s always a risk of bear attack in the area. 

 

"It is an ever-present danger.”

"Security is number one, two and three."

A 17-year-old British teenager was killed on Svalbad in 2011 after he was attacked by a bear.