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Scientists saved as polar bears close in

Stranded on an Arctic island, the researchers were surrounded by the animals when a helicopter arrived in the nick of time.

OSLO, Norway - Three unarmed Polish researchers stranded on a remote Arctic island were rescued by helicopter as polar bears were closing in on them, officials said Wednesday.

The hairsbreadth escape took place on an island in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, about 650 miles from the North Pole.

"It was the worst imaginable situation. They were cold and wet, had no equipment or weapons, and were surrounded by hungry polar bears," said Peter Braaten of the Svalbard governor's office.

The men were stranded at the edge of a tiny bay between two glaciers for 15 hours before the helicopter arrived, he said.

The three were aboard the Polish research ship Horyzont when they set out in a small inflatable boat to pick up equipment.

"Their boat capsized, and they lost all their equipment and weapons," Braaten said. He said they swam and clambered over chunks of floating ice to get to the island.

Braaten said the ship repeatedly tried to send in another small boat to pick them up, but conditions were too rough. The ship finally used a harpoon canon to fire a rope to land, so it could send the researchers food and water.

"They managed to start a fire, to keep warm and keep the polar bears away," he said. The men used the spark plugs from their capsized craft's outboard motor to get the fire going.

"It was a bit like MacGyver," Braaten said, referring to the television character who relies on science to solve problems.

Braaten said a least three polar bears were within about 20 yards of the three men when the helicopter picked them up.

Polar bears have no natural enemies and regard all other living things, including humans, as potential meals.

[Last modified August 18, 2005, 01:06:07]