Grise Fiord (Apr 28/03) - A sport hunter from Wisconsin was about 100 kilometres away from Grise Fiord trying to catch a polar bear when he suddenly collapsed.

James H. Thieding, 59, died out on the land on April 9 despite attempts made by his two guides to resuscitate him.

An investigation into the matter and the completion of an autopsy showed that the man died of heart failure.

Thieding's body was returned to Grise Fiord almost 12 hours after his death.

The whole community had to work together to make that possible.

"In terms of organizing the recovery, it worked out very well. We couldn't land the plane in the area because it was too bumpy and that delayed us," said Marty Kuluguqtuq, the president of the company in charge of the sport hunt, Qutsitmiut Outfitting.

In the end, the Polar Shelf Project in Resolute Bay provided a helicopter to help in retrieving the body and to bring the guides back to the community.

Both the RCMP and a coroner from Resolute Bay were at the scene for the investigation.

Thieding's wife was notified of the death with the help of the U.S. Consulate. Everyone in the community was upset by the occurrence.

"When something like this happens in a small community everyone is shaken up. He was the second hunter to go out this season," said Kuluguqtuq.

There are still seven hunters coming up to Grise Fiord, each paying between $10,000 and $15,000 for the opportunity.