Mobile email saves polar explorer's life

A mobile internet connection has saved the life of a British explorer trapped on an ice flow near the North Pole.

David Mill emailed Canadian rescuers and sent them a digital picture of a runway he had cleared in the ice with his sledge.

Mill wanted to be the first man to complete a solo and unaided walk from Canada to the North Pole.

But his attempt was sunk by delays, and he ended up being stuck on a large chunk of floating ice and stalked by a polar bear.

To further complicate rescue efforts, Mill had to find a site on the ice that would be big enough to land an aircraft.

After clearing a site as best he could, Mill emailed the authorities, attaching a digital picture of what the site looked like so the pilot would be able to find him.

It was the first significant test of digital technology being used by explorers. Mill's Canadian rescuers declared it a success.