Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Pond Inlet (Aug 19/02) - A Pond Inlet resident died last Thursday after the boat he was paddling near the community breakwater overturned.

Philip Issigaitok, 65, was paddling his way to his boat a short distance away at approximately 11:30 a.m. when the accident occurred.

RCMP Const. Louis Jenvenne said the winds were relatively clam, but there were waves in the ocean.

"There wasn't a lot of wind, but there were some waves. I would say that would be the major cause of the accident," said Jenvenne.

Issigaitok reportedly was not wearing a personal flotation device.

A rescue group of three people paddled their way to the scene of the accident and pulled Issigaitok from the water. They immediately began resuscitation attempts on shore and then transported him to the health centre.

He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Jenvenne said a date for a funeral service had not yet been set and that the community was awaiting the arrival of out-of-town family.