Explorer who shot killer polar bear appears in public

The expedition leader who shot a polar bear that killed a schoolboy and mauled him and three others today made his first public appearance since the attack.

Michael "Spike" Reid, 29, suffered a broken jaw, fractured skull and a damaged eye socket as he tried to fight off the bear last month.

He spent two and a half weeks in hospital recovering from injuries caused by the bear's teeth and claws and had several operations.

Mr Reid was today the guest of honour of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who collected an honorary doctorate in science from Plymouth University.

The veteran explorer introduced Mr Reid at the graduation ceremony and talked of his "brave" and "courageous" actions in Svalbard, Norway. He was one of the leaders of a British Schools Exploring Society expedition when they were attacked.

Mr Reid shot the animal in the head, but not before it had killed Horatio Chapple, 17, and injured two students, Patrick Flinders and Scott Bennell-Smith, both 16, who were sharing a tent with him. Fellow leader Andy Ruck, 27, was also badly mauled.