Dom Mee's boat was trapped in ice for three days

Dom Mee, from West Buckland, near Wellington, was using a collapsible rubber kayak to retrace the 1831 route of Victorian adventurer Sir John Ross through the Northwest Passage.

He was forced to abandon his 900-mile journey just 35 miles short of his destination after getting stuck and being attacked by a musk ox.

Mr Mee, 32, a former Marine Commando, then had to trek back to civilisation, braving more risky conditions to get to safety.

On his arrival at Gatwick on Monday, Mr Mee, who was greeted by friends and family, said he had no regrets about calling off the epic journey, explaining that it would have been too dangerous to continue.

"It was the best decision I could have made as the conditions were treacherous," he said.

I was so focused on watching out for polar bears and walruses that I didn't think I would have a problem with a musk ox - it was a bit of a surprise Dom Mee

"If I had pressed on I could have been trapped again and would have been killed or embarrassed when I called for somebody to rescue me.

"Then some other poor guy would have had to have risked their life to try and save mine."

Mr Mee told of his encounter with a musk ox, which he fended off with a pump-action shotgun after it injured his ribs and left him needing to take painkillers for the rest of the trip.

"I was so focused on watching out for polar bears and walruses that I didn't think I would have a problem with them, so it was a bit of a surprise."

Global circumnavigation

The adventurer said he had achieved what he set out to do - despite not completing the journey.

"What I wanted to do was to highlight a forgotten piece of history which is on a par with the achievements of (explorer Sir Ernest) Shackleton," he said.

"I wanted to raise awareness for the public around the world and I feel I have done that."

His wife Angela, 40, said that following her husband's progress from the UK had at times been "stressful", especially during the period he was trapped.

But she said she was ready to support his next voyage - a solo unsupported circumnavigation of the globe via the polar regions, planned for next year.

"I am used to him," she said. "He's always going to do it so I have to live with it. I have every confidence in his ability - if anybody can achieve these things then I am quite clear that he can."