AN EAST Cornwall teenager is recovering in Derriford Hospital this week, following a polar bear attack in Norway which left one of his party dead.

Scott Bennell-Smith, 17, from St Mellion, who raised money towards the £3,000 trip by washing cars in the village, is said to be in a stable condition after having his jaw broken and losing some teeth in the attack.

Prayers will be said in St Mellion Parish Church this Sunday for Scott and his family, three other survivors of the incident and the parents of Eton schoolboy Horatio Chapple, 17, who died in the attack.

Vicar of St Mellion the Rev Philip Lamb said the incident was every parent's nightmare: 'In times like these people rely on their family, friends and neighbours, and the church is there should they need it. We will be remembering them in our prayers on Sunday.'

Meanwhile investigations are underway in Norway into the incident and equipment failures.

Scott, who attends Devonport High School for Boys, was part of a group travelling on a British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) expedition at Von Postbreen glacier on Svalbard, 600 miles north of the Norwegian mainland. He was one of two teenagers sharing a tent with Horatio Chapple when the 39-stone bear attacked.

Other members of the group, Patrick Flinders, 16, from Jersey, Michael 'Spike' Reid from Plymouth, the expedition leader who shot the bear and 27-year-old fellow leader Andy Ruck, were also injured.

Scott's father Peter Bennell-Smith said: 'Last Friday was without doubt the worst day of my life and it will never leave me to think how close Scott came to being killed that day.'

Scott was able to speak to his father from his hospital bed on Friday evening. Mr Bennell-Smith said his son's first thoughts following the attack were for the loss of his friend and for the worry his family was going through.

Scott and Patrick were flown back to Britain on Sunday and transferred to hospitals closer to home.

Headteacher of Devonport High School for Boys, Kieran Earley, said Scott's parents were 'extraordinarily relieved' to have him home.

He said Scott was the first student from the school to go on the trip to the Arctic Circle, which he described as 'well organised.'

Mr Earley cautioned against stopping teenagers going to dangerous places in the wake of the attack.

'They are keen to go out and experience the world,' he said. 'I think we understand that, when you take part in these activities, there is a certain amount of risk.

'As long as these risks are being taken with a certain amount of common-sense and preparation, children should go out and do them.'

Chairman of BSES Edward Watson said every young explorer out in the field in Svalbard had now returned home.

'Rest assured, we will leave no stone unturned in investigating the tragic incident on August 5 in Svalbard,' he said.

'The Norwegian authorities' enquiries are under way.

'In parallel we have begun to fully review procedures, examine equipment and gather witness statements to understand if anything could have been done to prevent this tragic incident happening.'

'The investigation into the incident will be chaired by an independent third party who we will appoint shortly, and we will make our findings public.

'I am keen that this is a transparent process for the benefit not only of our society but for the exploring community as a whole.

'The Norwegian authorities have asked that we do not comment directly about the incident until their enquiries have concluded, and we will fully respect their wish. I will not comment on speculation, at any stage.

'A young man has lost his life, and four expedition members were injured.

'We remain committed to supporting those affected through this particularly difficult time in their lives.'