Inquest to open on polar bear tragedy

Horatio Chapple was on an adventure holiday to the remote Svalbard islands in August 2011 with the British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) when he died.

The 17-year-old from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was sleeping in his tent when the bear went on the rampage, inflicting fatal injuries to his head and upper body.

Four others were hurt, while the bear was shot dead by one of the group leaders.

An investigation by Norwegian officials later ruled that the death resulted from “a number of unfortunate circumstances’’.

Following the probe, Svalbard’s governor stressed the BSES did not act negligently under criminal law.

Horatio’s parents lodged an appeal but prosecutors in Norway later upheld the original decision that no criminal charges should be brought.

The month after Horatio’s death High Court Judge Sir David Steel was appointed to chair an independent inquiry into the incident.

Sir David completed his report in July 2012 but its publication was delayed until the inquest could be heard.

It is scheduled to be published this morning to coincide with the start of the inquest, which is being held before Assistant Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon Ian Singleton and is expected to last for five days.

Horatio, who aspired to become a doctor, was praised by his family following his death for his “amazing sense of humour and ability to laugh at himself’’.