Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Coppermine (May 24/04) - A 51-year old Kugluktuk man, who likes going out on the land by himself simply to soak up the beautiful scenery, went missing on Tuesday and had to be rescued.

"He just loves exploring," said Jack Himiack, one of the search and rescue workers who found the man safe, but drained of energy on Wednesday night, about 31 miles southwest of town.

"He wanted to see the scenery. He goes out further and further every time."

On May 18, just after 4 p.m., the man set out on a snowmobile trip that would eventually take him too far.

The man's wife contacted the authorities at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday night.

She supplied search and rescue workers with information, including details about his clothing and health condition. There were some concerns, as the man is a diabetic.

The man explained later that his snowmachine stopped working properly, and that's why he got stranded out there. When authorities tested the machine later, however, the snowmachine was working.

Himiack was on the search and rescue team, and later suffered frostbite on his face from searching so long on Tuesday night.

"That night was cold," Himiack said. "Anybody who was out there that night would tell you that."

It is likely, Himiack said, that the man would not have survived another day out on the land.

The man was located just over two miles away from his snowmachine. He had been walking in every direction.

Cpl. Franco Radeschi said the man was found "tired, dizzy, but OK," on Wednesday night.

The community came out in full force in support of the search effort on Tuesday and Wednesday, cooking bannock and frying fish for the rescue workers.

The man was taken to the health centre and is now resting at home.