英伦广角 2011-08-14 北极熊奇袭英国少年

 As more and more detail emerges about the attack that has claimed his life, the family of Horatio Chapple released this picture of the 17-year-old adventurer. In a statement they said: "Horatio was so excited about his plans to be a doctor. Strong, fearless and kind with an amazing sense of humour and an ability to laugh at himself. He was on the cusp of adulthood¹ and had a clear vision of where his life was going."

 

We now know that he was in a group of 13 when a polar bear struck. The trip-wire they deployed² around their camp reportedly failed, leaving the bear free to attack them.

 

"Based on the advice of Svalbard authorities and taking account the wishes of our group leaders, BSES has made the decision to end this expedition. Police, local authorities, group leaders and BSES feel it would be wrong to continue their expedition in the light of the tragic³ incident at Svalbard yesterday morning."

 

The two tour leaders and two teenagers who were severely⁴ injured have now undergone surgery in the University Hospital in Tromso, on the Norwegian mainland. They’ve been visited by the British ambassador.

 

"I was so struck by how strong they were even although they had sustained injuries. And they were all communicating, and giving me the thumbs-up and saying you know we are going to get through this, we are going to recover. And they are in a severe but stable condition."

 

Questions are now being asked about how prepared they were for the threats posed by Norway’s Arctic wilderness⁵.

 

"They are very effective hunters. And the danger for people traveling in the natural habitat of bears is that they also could be seen as prey⁶. It’s very rare. I mean there have been in Svalbard which has, you know, a big human population and a big polar population. There've been I think 5 attacks since 1970s."

 

The group took this photo before they set off from their expedition. The investigation⁷ into how it ended so tragically⁸ continues.

1 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

2 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

5 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

6 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。