Polar Bear Drama on Svalbard: A Near-Miss for a Cruise Crew
What Happened?
On Saturday, a German worker from the MS Bremen, sailing under Hapag‑Lloyd Cruises, landed on Spitzbergen and almost became an ice‑cold headline. A polar bear, jaw‑wateringly unaware of hard work, swiped at the man, leaving him with a bruised head injury.
In Defense Mode
Another crew‑mate, quick‑thinking, shot the bear to protect his colleague, a move the police say was a “self‑defence” act. Hapag‑Lloyd’s spokesperson, Moritz Krause, expressed deep regret and panicked that the accident could have escalated.
After the Wake‑up Call
- The worker went from the snowy island to the tiny capital Longyearbyen by helicopter.
- Night‑time, a flight whisked him onward to Tromsø on mainland Norway.
- Tromsø hospital declared the injuries stable, the life definitely safe.
Polar Bear Blitz in History
Norway’s wildlife shield has kept these “polar giants” protected since 1973, landing roughly 1,000 bears on Svalbard back in 2015. Yet the archipelago, almost twice the size of Belgium and a ouchie ~1,000 km from the North Pole, has had five fatal attacks in the last four decades.
Recent “Bear‑wise” Incidents
- In 2011, a European school trip saw a 17‑year‑old Briton die with four others injured—before the beast was finally found.
- Other incidents generally involved rougher encounters, usually resolved with quick action from humans.
Bottom Line
Even in a region that feels like a polar frozen vacuum, human safety may still hinge on the cunning or clumsy of a bear’s whisker. Let’s keep our eyes on the ice and our hands ready for a quick “meow‑defense” moment!
