OSLO (AFP) - The polar bear pulled a tourist for about 40 metres.

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An tourist shot and killed a polar bear that had pulled his travel companion out of their tent on the Norwegian arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

The polar bear came into the tourist's tent, grabbed one of them and pulled him for about 40 metres (yards) before his companion got out and shot the bear, the governor of Svalbard said in a statement.

The pair, Norwegians in their 20s, were on a paddling trip on the northern end of the archipelago.

A rescue helicopter went to get the tourists and the injured one was to be taken to a hospital.

"The situation is under control and the polar bear has been shot," the statement added.