UK coroner: expedition company not to blame in polar bear mauling that killed teen schoolboy

LONDON – A British coroner has cleared a travel company of blame in the fatal mauling of a teen by a polar bear during an Arctic expedition.

Ian Singleton said Friday the British Schools Exploring Society had not been neglectful in the August 2011 incident on Norway's Svalbard archipelago.

Horatio Chapple was sleeping in his tent when the bear attacked and killed him. Four others were injured before the bear was shot dead. The 17-year-old died of injuries to his head and upper body.

The coroner did find that not all of the safety systems were working properly at the time.

The expedition leader earlier told the inquest he had tried to gouge out the polar bear's eyes to halt the attack.