Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (Oct 07/02) - One of the hamlet's most respected elders has returned home safe and sound after his ATV got stuck in the slushy tundra.

Residents and the search and rescue team began looking for elder Judas Aqilriaq on Sept. 28 after he failed to return from a day trip out on the land. The search began after his wife, Mary, announced on the radio that he was missing.

"People were looking for him all night. There must have been more than 10 Hondas out looking for him," said resident Louie Kamookak.

At about noon the following day, Kamookak found Aqilriaq out on the tundra about seven miles from the community. He had been gone for 25 hours.

"He wasn't doing too good. He was really thirsty and his boots were really wet because he had been falling all over trying to walk," said Kamookak.

Aqilriaq said he was crossing the tundra on the snow and because he was travelling at a low speed, his ATV got stuck.

"If I had gone fast I would have probably gone through it, but it was slush and the back wheels got stuck," said the elder, speaking through a translator.

Aqilriaq said he waited for someone to rescue him for a while, making sure that he kept moving in order to stay warm.

But after several hours of sitting on the ATV he decided to start walking, using his rifle for support.

Aqilriaq was about a mile from his ATV when he was found.

He said he was quite relieved to see Kamookak heading towards him.

"I wasn't too worried ... I knew that the people who were searching for me were being guided," he said, referring to his faith in God's guidance.

Aqilriaq is now recovering at home. Kamookak said he visited him on Wednesday night, Oct. 2.

"His legs and feet are kind of swelled up and his whole body is aching, but he's a tough old guy," he said.