"My life will never be the same again," said Dwayne Williams on arrival at Stanton Regional Hospital last night.

Searchers aboard the Hay River RCMP patrol boat The Guardian plucked Williams from the stormy waters at about 7 p.m., Staff Sgt. Dave Grundy said.

Yellowknife firemedics flew by helicopter from the hospital to treat Williams for any injuries he may have suffered and escort him back.

"He was found alive, and that's about all the detail I have right now. His family has been notified," said Grundy.

He said the rescue was the result of a search involving several RCMP detachments, First Air, Air Tindi, the Coast Guard and the co-operation of civilian marine and air traffic.

Williams was first spotted on the buoy by a Coast Guard helicopter involved in the search that concentrated on the Hearne Channel area.

Travelling to Quiet Bay in an open five-metre boat, Williams failed to meet friends by Sunday, six days after setting out. They called RCMP and a search was begun.

The search was being scaled back for the night when Williams was found. High winds, two- to three-metre swells and fog combined to make the search difficult.