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Search for missing men ended Father and son from U.S. who disappeared while fishing near Baker Lake presumed dead: lodge owner
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 5, 2013
QAMANITTUAQ/BAKER LAKE
Nunavut Protective Services has ended its efforts to find two American men reported missing near Baker Lake July 29 following nearly three days of exhaustive searching.
The father and son were last seen fishing on Dubawnt Lake near Tukto Lodge, according to a statement released by lodge owner Curt Enns.
They were expected to return to the lodge in time to catch a plane out of the area, but didn't show.
At that point, search parties were sent out.
Aerial and ground searches were conducted, but rescuers found only the men's boat and some of their equipment inside it, said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Yvonne Niego.
The vessel was discovered eight kilometres from the lodge's camp in gear and with an empty gas tank. Enns stated the men requested not to be accompanied by a guide or third party.
"As a result, there were no witnesses able to assist in search efforts that occurred over the course of the next three days," he stated.
Although the lodge's statement said the father and son are presumed dead, Niego said the RCMP hasn't made that determination.
"It's a missing persons file still. There is no presuming dead or anything at this time," she said Aug. 2.
Nunavut Protective Services called off the search for survivors on Aug. 1.
Ed Zebedee, director of protective services, said the decision was made after consultations with various experts about how long the men could potentially survive in the cold water.
All indications, he added, point to a scenario where the father and son fell into the lake.
"But we didn't limit our search to the water," Zebedee continued. "We searched shorelines extensively."
Two Hercules aircraft with search and rescuer personnel and spotters on board were used in the effort, along with a Twin Otter, which was chartered.
The Twin Otter covered about 5,400 square kilometers, he said.
"That aircraft is very low and slow. Search altitudes during the search, depending on the location were anywhere from 300 to 1500 feet at a speed of 85 miles an hour," Zebedee said.
The men's names, ages and specific place of origin have not been released.
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