Iqaluit (July 31/06) - A horrifying fall killed an on-duty Parks Canada patrol officer on July 25.

Phillip Robinson, 26, was rappelling from Thor Peak with a group of nine U.S. climbers in Auyuittuq National Park when he plummeted close to 600 metres, and reportedly died on impact, RCMP Cpl. Randy Slawson said.

A person camping in the park called the police on a satellite phone to report the incident around 9 p.m. The RCMP responded by helicopter and recovered his body.

Slawson said Robinson, who had a few years of climbing experience in addition to his Parks Canada training, was properly outfitted with safety gear.

Although the police believe the tragedy was accidental, they are compelled to examine sudden deaths, Slawson said. The incident was still under investigation as of Friday.

Robinson was born in Montreal but was raised in Iglulik, where his parents were teachers for many years. He had been working at Auyuittuq National Park - located between Pangnirtung and Qikiqtarjuaq - for the past few years. Prior to that he was with the Nunavut Field Unit at Quttinirpaaq National Park on Ellesmere Island.

His family was expected to arrive in Iqaluit from Sherbrooke, Quebec on Friday.

Pauline Scott, communications manager for Parks Canada's Nunavut Field Unit, had worked with Robinson since 2001. She described him as "incredible" and friendly.

"Phillip was a wonderful guy," she said. "He worked hard. He was enthusiastic and energetic.

"He made lots and lots of friends. It's a tough loss, a really tough loss... We offer our condolences to the family. It's a sad day for all of us."

Mount Thor stands a towering 1,675 metres over the valley floor below, according to Parks Canada's website, and has the longest uninterrupted cliff-face in the world.

"This is a huge rock tower," Slawson said.