Trying to avoid a freezing swim, the bear spread his weight across the ice

He ended up lying flat on his stomach to avoid breaking through the ice

The polar bear was photographed in the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska

This is the hilarious moment a polar bear lies flat on the thin ice beneath him in desperate attempt to prevent it breaking under his weight.

Trying his best to avoid a freezing cold plunge, the bear widened his stance and lowered his body weight in an attempt not to fall through.

The photographs were taken in the Beaufort Sea, west of Canada's Arctic islands, by keen photographer Gary Morgan.

The polar bear takes a few tentative steps on the thin ice as he tries to assess if it will hold his weight

Despite not initially falling through the thin ice, he starts the spread his weight to try and minimise the risk

Peering down as he walks with trepidation across the ice, it's believed he was out looking for seals

At one point, he was so concerned about breaking through the ice that he was almost lying on his belly

The polar bear manages to get a firm grip on the ice sheets, in the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska

But only moments later, one of his back paws slides across the ice during the nervy food expedition