CORAL HARBOUR - A Coral Harbour teenager was returned safely to his community Monday, Nov. 9, after narrowly averting tragedy on the ice floe.

Jupie Angootealuk had been polar bear hunting with elder Jimmy Nakoolak when their machine broke down on Saturday, Nov. 7.

It remains unclear as to why or how the two hunters were separated.

Nakoolak was found trying to walk back to Coral by local search-and-rescue members (SAR) on Sunday. He was crawling towards Coral when he was found, exhausted and dehydrated.

He was carried into the health centre by SAR members and flown to Churchill to be treated for hypothermia.

Meanwhile, Angootealuk had become stranded on an ice floe and had to bring down a female polar bear stalking him.

He was spotted by a Hercules aircraft deployed from Winnipeg early Monday morning, and three SAR technicians were dropped to the ice floe to make contact.

After confirming Angootealuk was in relatively good health, considering his ordeal, he was transported back to Coral by boat and truck.

He was also flown to Churchill to be treated for hypothermia.

While Angootealuk fought for his life on the ice floe, those on-board a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter trying to join in the search found themselves in peril when the chopper ran into mechanical difficulty and had to make an emergency landing at Wabush, Labrador.

Nobody was hurt in the incident.

Coral SAO Rob Hedley said Angootealuk was brought into the hamlet around 1:30 p.m. Eastern time on Monday.

He said the community was greatly relieved by the teen's safe return.

"We first became aware of the situation when other hunters came across an abandoned machine on Saturday, and we had been monitoring the situation since then," said Hedley.

"I was there when they brought him (Angootealuk) in, and all I can say is I physically saw him, and he was speaking coherently and didn't seem to be in too much distress.

"I don't know what condition he's officially listed in, but I'm happy to say he was in much better condition than I expected after three days out there."