A RUISLIP student has been chosen to attempt to reach the centre of the Arctic Ocean – otherwise known as the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility.

Chloe Moss, a 23-year-old PhD student at University College London, will be making the treacherous 800 mile trek over 80 days across the melting Arctic Ocean.

In article mpu She hiked through a Dartmoor bog for 16 hours on one cereal bar and no water in order to be selected for Arctic explorer Jim McNeill's Ice Warrior project.

He will be leading the expedition after twice trying to make the journey himself, thwarted by disintegrating sea ice and contracting a flesh-eating disease.

Miss Moss, who grew up in Ruislip and went to Bishop Ramsey School, is one of 28 ordinary people getting to make the adventure, and she will now be trained in how to avoid a polar bear attack.

She will head out to the Svalbard Islands near Norway in January, where there will also be training in first aid, general fitness and getting used to moving with skis while dragging a heavy load.

Miss Moss said: "I'm still in a state of disbelief.

"I’ve always wanted to do something different and have my own real-life adventure and when I heard about this opportunity I couldn’t say no.

"Depending on which leg of the expedition I do, we will set off sometime between February and April.

"It's a toss up over which is more scary - the -50C temperatures and snowstorms or the melting ice under your feet!

"I feel safe knowing that we are being led by an expert. I've met Jim a few times now. He is a very impressive man with over 30 years polar experience."

The target is the farthest point from land in the Arctic Ocean, more than 200 miles further than the geographic North Pole.

Share article Along the route the team will be gathering data about how the sea ice breaks up to help the scientific community learn more about climate change.

Jim McNeill said: “I’m delighted to have Chloe in the expedition team and look forward to training her in every aspect which will make her a competent polar traveller.”