Unable to wait any longer for rescuers, a group of hunters head home July 16 after two days of being stranded on floe ice near Arctic Bay. - photo courtesy of Tom Naqitarvik |
Stranded hunters rescue themselves
Fog delayed help from arriving, so seven Arctic Bay men took a chance
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 21, 2014
IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY
It was a nerve-wracking two-day struggle, but seven Arctic Bay narwhal hunters stranded on floe ice were able to safely return home July 16. Three others were able to get themselves to safety as the ice broke up July 14.
"The ice condition was not bad and we didn't know it was going to happen," said Tom Naqitarvik, one of the seven stranded men.
Riding snowmobiles and pulling qamutiks and a three-metre (12-foot) boat, the men had been hunting since July 12, and had some success catching narwhal. And then the problems started.
"We were floating away. The ice started floating away and we're trying to go across. The solid ice started breaking into small pieces, and we were drifting away on a very small piece of ice."
And the conditions were getting worse.
"It was raining, wet. It was so white out, foggy," Naqitarvik said.
The group realized they were in trouble about an hour into the ordeal.
"It was very windy and it was hard to get across," he said. They called for help about three hours later. Helicopters were prepared to leave Pond Inlet and Resolute, but fog prevented a rescue attempt.
"It was impossible to cross," he said. "Then six or seven hours later, the wind died down, so we headed to the land instead."
Was it scary?
"Some parts, some parts," he said.
The group managed to get to shore and then home.
"All were in good health, no injuries," RCMP Sgt. Yvonne Niego said.
Speaking by phone July 17, Naqitarvik was clearly worn out.
"I had a good night's sleep," he said. "I'm still sleeping."
The local hunters and trappers have closed off access to the floe edge due to the danger, Niego said.
