01.25.2024 The Polar Bear Attack Of Patrick Flinders

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Welcome back to Scary Bear Attacks! Today’s episode takes us to the Von Postbreen Glacier just northeast of the town of Longyearbyen on Svalbard Island, Norway. Access to this area is gained by boat or plane by following the Isfjord Inlet and hanging a right at the Sassenfjorden Arm. At the end of the arm is the boundary of the Sassen-Bunsow Land National Park. The park and its glaciers descend from the slopes of Hampusfjellet Mountain and decline toward the sea. This area is lower in elevation with the highest peak being Mount Newtontoppen rising 5620 feet above sea level. Small plants, lichens, mosses, and fungi make up the fauna on this island as there are no tall trees. Caribou are just about the only land animals you will see, apart from arctic foxes and polar bears.
The first week of August 2011 was an exciting one for the young members of the expedition organized by the British School Exploring Society. This organization planned and administered trips to ecologically sensitive areas to increase awareness amongst its members. The expeditions were expensive, but explorers and their families recognized the value was worth the cost. Being that they were being charged a premium for the expeditions, parents, and explorers had realistic expectations of safety for the participants.
After arriving at the campsite the explorers and their chaperones set up tents and rolled out bedrolls, with the youngsters sharing tents and the elders having their own. Their tents were arranged in a large circle with their access flaps pointed toward one another.
As a precaution, the expedition was provided with an electric alarm fence which was designed to keep polar bears from invading the perimeter of the camp without the occupants being alerted. This fence had been on several trips and packed for storage between them. The wear and tear on the materials in the fence had already taken a toll, but it still functioned, with a few small improvisations.
The camp hosts also brought along a vintage Mauser 98K army rifle from World War II stock. It was fairly reliable and had seen its better days, but would be thought of as a backup source of protection to the fence.
Now many expeditions are required to establish a bear watch to make sure that polar bears do not sneak into camp while everyone is sleeping. As we discussed in our prior episode, catching arctic campers in their tents is easy for a stealthy and camouflaged polar bear to accomplish and is the worst case scenario.
During a typical bear watch, a volunteer stands guard with flashlights or spotlights to ensure the camp perimeter is safe while other campers sleep. After a designated time, that volunteer is relieved by a different volunteer, and so on and so on, until the sun is up. Having experience performing bear watches on prior expeditions, some chaperones were concerned about exhausting the explorers and decided against establishing one. The best case scenario for a bear watch is that the volunteer stays alert for their shift, but the inherent flaws in that assumption reveal the weakness of the execution of a bear watch.
Each day the explorers were tasked with a specific goal which varied between completing a hike, collecting information, or cooperating on a task. A few days prior, while out and about the explorers had happened upon a polar bear track in the snow. The track was eerily just outside their camp a few hundred yards.
After discussing the presence of the bear tracks near their camp, the chaperones pointed out that the precautions they had taken would be sufficient protection. Given their long and safe history of expeditions in the Arctic, polar bears are not as big a threat as they seem. After all, venturing into the bear’s environment creates an expectation and possibility of seeing them in their natural habitat and function.
That night, the explorers were tired from the day's activities and settled into their warm sleeping bags to rest. In a tent shared by Patrick Flinders, Horatio Chapel, and Scott Bennell-Smith, Flinders rolled his sleeping bag out in the middle with Chapel and Bennell-Smith on each side of him. After a small amount of bedtime banter, the boys drifted off to sleep.
After several hours of peaceful sleep, Patrick was awoken by the violent shaking of their tent. He heard odd scratching sounds on the tent fabric. As he looked around he could see the tent bow downward toward his face and then collapse. The young man immediately pulled his sleeping bag up over his head and curled into a ball.

[@jenisemcintyre3839]

Sleeping in a thin tent in polar bear country is akin to taking a walk in Antarctica in a swim suit. The chaperones were very negligent because of the use of faulty equipment. R.I.P. Horatio. You had every right to expect that the chaperones were capable of securing your safety!

[@kittywells3152]

Agree.... tent camping is not the safest route to take...especially in known bear country. I'm so sorry for the injuries and death and prayers for friends and families

[@jenisemcintyre3839]

@@kittywells3152 Very true, Kitty. I saw an interview of Horatio's mom and she is sad to have lost her son but she is unbroken and is not bitter. I admire her strength!

[@arisdelis1]

Incompetence and Negligence...no dogs...no hunting guide....single rifle ...Darwin award finalists

[@stephenkern5784]

Decided they didn't "need" a bear watch? Gross negligence.

[@serafinmagic1634]

One antique firearm, old bear fence patched together, no watch, what could possibly go wrong?

[@cherimolina2121]

Negligence. Charging a "premium" yet using a patched up perimeter fence. I nearly laughed when you said the rifle worked "fairly well", but knew there'd be carnage due to it. And no night watch! WOW! Bears are thinking "cream puff" tour. Just what that old bear had been waiting for! There's always 1!

[@runninggirl2765]

This "expedition" was more like a crazy camp-out. Bringing a worn perimeter fence, a WWII weapon, having no night bear watch? Come on! NEGLIGENT to the extreme.

[@blyt5046]

My idea is this when it’s a serious watch like a polar bear watch it would behoove anyone to have two people as a night watch, two people will whisper in conversation with each other and keep each other awake as opposed to one person sitting there and dozing off to sleep which is likely what happened. I noticed in another story that you told that the Nightwatch fell asleep in the polar bear passed the electric fence.

[@Storm-lg4mx]

Reminds me of the Ghost and the Darkness....You went into battle with an unproven weapon?

[@incineroar9933]

I believe that there was a study on their closest relatives, the grizzly, that showed that bears are capable of simple tool use. They were shown to be able to move and position objects underneath a hanging bag of treats to get at it. These are smart animals.

[@denisem270]

So so sad and tragic!!! Very interesting episode and storytelling Atticus !!! Thank you!!!! Yes I do feel they were negligent!!! Good night 💤💤💤 everyone!!!

[@massivedynamic2339]

The moral of the story is that it you should always have a loaded and tested firearm in your tent!

[@MikeHunt-fo3ow]

i was on polar bear watch at camp but nobody explained to me what to do.......anyhow when it was my turn to keep watch i saw a bear and thought wow im good at this...anyhow the bear killed dave and afterwards everyone was mad saying i was on watch....i said i was i watched the bear eat dave lol

[@alextepe4309]

Their biggest mistake was going into bear country without a dependable rifle. They probably could have done better than a WWII era Mauser.

[@diannebush800]

This is the second video I have watched where someone brought an old unused rifle that never could shoot

[@fredinalaska]

FAFO what a bunch of idiots the organizers are, I have no respect for the people who planed the trip, absolutely unforgivable IMO

[@denisem270]

Hey Addicus I love the notebook hate to part with it!!! That's exactly what I get promising my nephew!!! Grrrrr 🐻

[@charlestaylor1084]

Is it just me, or does it seem like polar bears are easier to dispatch than grizzly bears are? On most of the episodes where a polar bear is shot, it seems like 1 or 2 shots does the trick. But I have heard of many stories where grizzly bears are shot and they just keep coming. Even the shots that do eventually kill them, its like they are not dead on the spot, rather the body is found some time later in a distance.

[@color_me_]

good question...

[@charlestaylor1084]

Having asked this question on other videos, I have gotten replies from some who seem knowledgeable on the subject, and they all agree that although Polar Bears are by far the most dangerous to humans (they view us as they do a seal i.e we are on their menu), their build, which makes them excellent swimmers is not overly muscular. Long legs, thin chest, etc...Grizzly Bears on the other hand can be super muscular, with layers of dense muscles@@color_me_

[@tomstoob]

how bout EVERY PERSON in this expedition carry and take to bed with them a can of bear spray - keep it warmed up in your sleeping bag and have it ready to fire off should you wake up and find a polar bear heavily breathing down upon you. These people doing these expeditions need to subscribe to Scary Bear Attacks.

[@mariamead4444]

There’s a big difference between legitimate adventuring with all serious protective measures taken and checked for performance, and this disaster. Tents, in this kind of environment? This kind of environment? Electric fences that are inefficient and one weapon that doesn’t work? Sheer lunacy and worse, injuries and death the price for this carelessness.

[@994pt4]

No need for a properly functioning fence, night watch or gun when polar bears are about. A tent and luck is the best strategy!

[@jacktice7287]

The baddest of the bad of all bears. Strictly a meat eater no matter the source

[@karenmohoff4850]

You’re so right! That’s one thing in life I don’t care to see. The only animal on the planet that hunts humans. No thanks

[@JohnnyDanger36963]

Your original 8 bit bear roar was funnier.

[@denisem270]

So terrifying!!!!!!

[@denisem270]

Did you get my picture in my googoodolls ski hat? My favorite band!!! Me and Dawn saw them in concert for are birthday gifts!!! I'm hoping the pic got to you still learning new phone!!! Gonna take me forever!!! 😂😂😂 12 mins rooooarrrr 🐻!!!!!

[@karenmohoff4850]

Oh man, I was sure late. Like 3 days. Not sure why I didn’t see that you posted this but glad I’m here now.

[@denisem270]

I'm so missing live chat with you and my scary bear attacks friends!!! My family said blame the idiots for hacking me grrrr 🐻 will never know 😢

[@metalmamasue3680]

We miss you too Denise 😊

[@denisem270]

The suspense is killing me!!! 5 hours get here!!!l🐻‍❄️👀

[@frisk151]

LOL.. NO Sheot!!! I used to think it was some YT bs tease channel owners were using to add suspense, and traffic, etc.. I'm exceptionally fast on the draw but once the crayons were brought out, I definitely see the attraction for those channel owners to actually be talking to subscribers as the video is playing... Hopefully I'll find those windows of opportunity to join in live.. While my sub / reminders for this channel are fully on, I must be missing something as I don't get any notifications at all... Almost certainly my own error...

[@BeverlyGlenHOA]

yes the "expedition" leaders were TOTALLY negligence... they didn't even have bear spray

[@chinaski44]

As I sit in my cabin, surrounded by a portable electric fence and well armed with spray and firearms, I can't imagine not having layers of protection deep in the Arctic. Especially with youngsters in camp, you've gotta have some contingency plans for worse case scenarios.

[@pattieh5118]

Are you really in the artic?

[@chinaski44]

@@pattieh5118 oh, no, my apologies if I wasn't clear. I'm in NW Montana

[@pattieh5118]

Beautiful territory

[@pattieh5118]

Lots of 🐻 bear

[@chinaski44]

Gorgeous country. The weather has been mostly mild so I dunno what those bears are up to currently. I maintain a healthy vigilance either way but never let it get in the way of enjoying the wild:)

[@denisem270]

Poor Patrick!!!

[@denisem270]

Getting ready to have my Indiana extra butter popcorn now!!!! Woo- hoo!!!! Here we gooooooo!!!!👀🐻‍❄️

[@Brian-cx3np]

time to develop a bear proof carbon fiber sleeping bag 🧐

[@joeypinterrockandroll3961]

I wonder if Patrick Flinders is a relation of Matthew Flinders? if we lived in Australia everyone would know who M.F. was.

[@nilslindstrom8087]

that sure was a reall beary scear attack!!

[@lynnbutler1643]

There was a pic of a polar bear standing a rock that looked like it was strarving to death where was that pic taken at? Not that it has a y relevance to the story but I find these pics very disturbing as a full on animal lover and activist

[@metalmamasue3680]

They became complacent, when they most needed to be vigilant. And innocent people paid the price. You cannot skimp on your safety and the safety of your charges.

[@whitefeather67]

The chaperones in this case were negligent. They are 100% responsible for the injuries and death. There is no excuse for using a worn out perimeter fence, not setting up a watch, or having only a single rifle which was apparently untested prior to the expedition.

[@jer6162]

24 years old broken rotten teeth nothing mentioning weight but I would assume low weight. Polar bear is in his environment the vast majority of people would not want to be part of. I think the old boar was hungry and the fence wouldn't have stopped him either way. The group leaders negligence in my opinion was not having a great working firearm and a backup or two.

[@gungadingo]

The stated weight was 500 lbs

[@d.c.4lifeking602]

Poorly under armed

[@wallacejeffery5786]

You just can’t fix stupid, no matter what

[@lauratyler4863]

Would bear spray have been effective?

[@denisem270]

Yayyyyyyuyy!!!! 21 mins!!!! 🐻‍❄️👀

[@aquariandawn4750]

Curling into the fetal position inside your sleeping bag while screaming "I don't want to be here anymore" sounds like the response of someone who has Nature confused with Disney. We are made of meat.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

_"I don't want to be here anymore!"_ Bear: "Don't worry, you won't be here much longer."

[@hjr927]

Definitely negligence they should have had more than one rifle and a bear watch every night. Also made sure the rifles fired properly. Poor Horacio and his family such a sad story. Polar bears are deadly and worst now because of lack of food source. Anyone going there is prey and should be concerned for their lives whether someone is on watch or not.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

_"I don't want to be here anymore!"_ Bear: "Don't worry, you won't be here much longer."

[@kellykane7586]

😂

[@snakesandstones4252]

Kind of a cruel joke in this context, especially considering the victim's age and they fact his family paid a premium to be safe on the expedition and their chaperones failed them at literally every turn all while reassuring them the bears weren't dangerous. :/ idk, it's one thing when a grown adult puts themselves in a stupid situation, doesn't use any common sense, and over-confidently saunters into a situation like this, but this situation is very different.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

​@@snakesandstones4252 Agreed - those in charge failed their clients miserably. The dark humor wasn't meant to assign blame to the victims.

[@Deb-fs9st]

Well almost made live.

[@joshuabradshaw9120]

Such a tragedy.

[@Stefan-ox5sk]

Getting attacked by a bear isn't like getting attacked by a dog.

[@TVTIME-be8ze]

🐻‍❄️🍽️

[@chrisquintrell7116]

There's every other animal attack which is horrifying in itself, then there is Grizzly and Polar attacks... What an absolute beast of a animal... Awesome video as always. 💙

[@patmitchell2389]

I feel sorry for that bear as he had a toothache

[@denisem270]

654321 let's gooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

[@bitemyshinnymetalass1569]

There hasn't been anymore scary animal attack stories. There are still plenty of dog mauling articles just from last year. Can we get more stories. Hopefully the channel is still active.

[@denisem270]

Awwww soooo cute the polar bear cubs!!!🐻‍❄️🐻‍❄️🐻‍❄️

[@color_me_]

ugh.

[@melmack2003]

I hated this episode.....it was horrendous!!

[@JeromeHeim-yv6np]

If a grizzly bear can figure out what ot has to do to get an electrified partial deer carcass ather a few tries by knotting the power cord off the battery, a polar bear can figure out that the pole is not electified.

[@color_me_]

what incident is that from?

[@JeromeHeim-yv6np]

@@color_me_ scary bears attacks had a polar bear that knotted the pole down to get at the people in the camp with electrified wire

[@color_me_]

@@JeromeHeim-yv6np ~ no i mean the grizzly bear thing with the deer carcass...

[@JeromeHeim-yv6np]

@color_me_ I don't remember which you tube I seen grizzly bear on but some guy diceded to see if hooking a battery up to half a deer carcass would deter a grizzly bear . It's been running a couple years now on you tube.

[@jarodguidotti5903]

This is horrible man

[@inthemouthofmadness5910]

If there is one bear you definitely want to stay miles away from, it's a polar bear. They are known to hunt humans.