A FORMER Southampton University student working in the Antarctic has died after being attacked by a leopard seal.

Marine biologist Kirsty Brown, 28, was attacked while she was snorkelling in the bay next to the Rothera research station, the British Antarctic Survey said.

"She was with her snorkelling 'buddy' when the seal pulled her underwater and contact with her was lost," a spokesman said.

Rescuers pulled her out of the water but attempts at resuscitation failed.

Ms Brown from West Sussex earned her masters in oceanography at Southampton in 1997.

British Antarctic Survey director Chris Rapley paid tribute to "a vibrant, dynamic individual, committed to her science and with a promising scientific career ahead of her".

She joined the British Antarctic Survey in 2002 on an 18-month contract. Her research at Rothera focused on the impact of iceberg erosion on Antarctic nearshore marine animal communities.

Leopard seals are often inquisitive when they en-counter humans, but very rarely attack unless provoked, the British Antarctic Survey said.

Kirsty was snorkelling at a study site in a bay close to the Rothera station on Monday when she disappeared.

No one else was injured and the BAS has launched a full investigation.

BAS has been carrying out research involving snorkelling and diving for the last 30 years.

Kirsty had diving experience in Greenland and Australia as well as the UK.