Funeral For British Teen Killed By Polar Bear

The funeral has taken place of the "fearless" teenager mauled to death by a polar bear while on an adventure holiday in Norway.

Aspiring medic Horatio Chapple, 17, died after the bear attacked a group travelling on a British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) expedition.

The private funeral service, celebrating the life of the Eton College pupil, took place at Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire.

It was attended by Horatio's family and hundreds of friends and well-wishers, and led by the Dean of Salisbury, the Very Reverend June Osborne.

In a statement, parents David and Olivia and brothers Titus and Magnus said: "We are so grateful for the incredible support, generosity and kindness everyone has shown to us.

"The service today was a wonderful tribute to Horatio's achievements in the 17 years of his life. We will always be very proud of him."

At the time of his death, the teenager's family, from Bishopstone, near Salisbury, described him as "fearless and kind" and said he had been "so excited about his plans to be a doctor".

Four other members of Horatio's party were injured in the horrific attack on the island of Svalbard on August 5.

One of the expedition leaders, Michael "Spike" Reid, 29, eventually shot the bear but only after he was also set upon and suffered injuries to his face and neck.

Fellow leader Andrew Ruck, 27, from Brighton; Scott Bennell-Smith, 17, from St Mellion, Cornwall; and Patrick Flinders, 16, from Jersey, were also badly hurt.

Scott and Patrick had been sharing a tent with Horatio when the attack happened.

Patrick's skull was fractured when the bear held his head in its mouth, but he miraculously managed to escape.

Following treatment in Norway, they were all transferred to hospitals in the UK.

The five Britons were part of a group camping on the Von Postbreen glacier near Longyearbyen on Svalbard, north of the Norwegian mainland.

They had been researching climate change by studying glaciers and documenting changes since previous expeditions.

An independent investigation has been launched into the polar bear attack with organisers of the expedition vowing to "leave no stone unturned".