Cape Dorset (Mar 07/05) - Four walrus hunters were rescued 35 kilometres outside of Cape Dorset last week after spending two nights on an ice floe.

Moe Qimirpik and his father Kelly, Sau Pee, and Kov Pudlat were stranded after they left for their hunt on Sunday, Feb. 27, around 10 a.m.

"I went out to meet the guys on the ice, out to the floe edge," recalled Pee, who told the story about what happened from the warm comfort of his home in Cape Dorset one day after being rescued.

"We saw the walrus. We caught that walrus right away. We skinned it. It was skinny. So we headed down further."

The men were hunting with two snowmobiles with qamutiks full of supplies and a boat, whose engine started to give them trouble as they travelled further out.

"It started to freeze on the gas line. We knew the gas line was frozen. Then we got drifted away by a strong wind," Pee said.

The hunters were able to keep people at the hamlet appraised of the situation, that is until the waves got bigger, soaking the men and sweeping their supplies away.

"I was wearing my blue goose jacket, my wind pants, seal skin mitts. Everything was wet."

"We were lucky there was a large ice floe," Pee recalled.

"We tried to make it over to it. We threw the anchor to the ice. But a big wind was starting."

Pee said the waves reached 10 feet high, "like a roof top."

At one point, Pee tried to fashion a sail for the boat out of a 10 foot by 12 foot tarp he had, but it didn't work.

"We tried to land on the corner of this island, but we passed it," he said.

Pee said the men started praying. They knew getting to that 40 feet by 40 feet piece of ice was their only chance of survival.

Finally, they got themselves onto the ice floe. The men huddled together, trying to stay warm.

"I slept a little, standing up," said Pee.

By this time, word spread around the hamlet that the men were in trouble and search and rescue mobilized quickly from Cape Dorset, Iqaluit and Halifax.

Kenn Borek medical plane pilots, who were in the area on a scheduled medevac, spotted the men on Monday and quickly informed a survival supply-laden Hercules aircraft from Halifax exactly where the men were.

The Hercules dropped a round inflatable boat, a little stove, rations - including water - clothing and blankets.

"We started drinking the water right away, and when we swallowed, it hurt!" said Pee. "Our throats were so dry."

Unexpected rescue

Due to mechanical problems and weather the rescue chopper that delivered the men safely home couldn't reach them until Tuesday, at 5 p.m.

"We didn't expect that chopper," said Pee. "We couldn't see anything. It was snowing. Everything was white."

But the Hercules had dropped them a radio and they were able to hear that help was on the way. Pudlat got frostbite on his hands, but all four men are fine.

Pee couldn't wait to see his two daughters, three grandchildren and his wife Josephine.

"I want to thank people that prayed for us. We're sorry they were worried. We couldn't do anything about it. We have only ourselves. We lost everything."

"I'm glad everyone came back alive," said Pee.

"Everyone was at the airport," he said. "We were crying. Everyone was crying. I hope it never happens again."

Hamlet officials praise the work of the coast guard and all the rescuers.

"The whole community is thankful for the coast guard's efforts," said SAO Art Stewart. "I'm glad it's over. It's very stressful for everyone when people are missing."