A KELVEDON teenager who was among the party of young explorers attacked by a polar bear in Norway is expected home soon.

Sam Rowe, 18, was on the British expedition to Svalbard when a polar bear mauled one member of his group to death and seriously injured four others.

His parents Tim and Melanie, of High Street, Kelvedon, were anxiously waiting for more news over the weekend of their son, who has just finished his A-Levels at Colchester Royal Grammar School.

Sam was not one of those hurt.

Dad Tim said: “All we know is that Sam is OK.

“All the kids returned back to base camp on Saturday, and they had a team meeting where they decided to come back home early.

“They are now organising flights as there isn’t a regular service to where they are based.

“They are expected to be back early this week.

“We have been unable to personally speak to Sam because there is no phone signal to where they all are.

“We know they are in capable hands.”

The four people injured include two trip leaders and two students.

Two of them were flown to hospitals in the UK on Sunday after receiving initial surgery in the University Hospital, in Tromsoe.

The 17-year-old who died in the incident has been named as Horatio Chapple, from Bishopstone, Wiltshire.

The party was on a British Schools Exploring Society trip and was near the remote Von Postbreen glacier when the attack happened on Friday morning last week.

Edward Watson, the society’s chairman, said: “This tragic incident has affected everyone involved, and we believe ending the expedition is the most appropriate decision.

“We are contacting the families affected regarding these arrangements, and they have our full support.”

The governor’s office in Svalbard district said one of the injured group members had shot the polar bear.

The rest of the group, who are all aged 16 to 23, were in shock.

Sam had to raise £3,600 to pay for the three week trip which began on July 27.

He said before he left his parents were nervous about the expedition.