A RUSSIAN pilot has been rescued by Canadian forces after his helicopter crashed into the water in the Arctic Circle and he managed to survive two days alone in the Arctic.

    Sergey Ananov was found “alive and well” on a large float of sheet ice and later said he had to scare off three polar bears after they attempted to climb on to the ice floe.

    Ananov was trying to become the first person to fly around the Arctic Circle in a small helicopter known as a Robinson R22.

    He started his journey in Moscow in mid-June and was meant to finish his epic flight in Greenland.

    Recalling the terrifying moment his helicopter developed an unknown fault, Ananov said the helicopter “was completely out of control.”

    Realizing his aircraft was going down, Ananov tried to land on the ice but only ended up in the freezing cold water, where it “literally sank in 30 seconds.”

    According to Rear Admiral John Newton from the Canadian Forces Joint Rescue Coordination Center, Ananov was lucky to escape with his life.

    (SD-Agencies)