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Tragedy on the water

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Chesterfield Inlet (Sep 14/05) - The community of Chesterfield Inlet is in mourning following a fatal boating accident this past weekend.

A four-man crew of elder Camille Simik, Kevin Naitok, Lucie Simik and Joseph (Nippi) Alogut were sailing back to Chesterfield Inlet on-board a brand-new boat they had picked up in Thompson, Manitoba, when they ran into trouble sometime Friday evening.

High winds caused large swells and choppy conditions which caused the boat to take on water about 30 miles south of Whale Cove.

It is believed the four were trying to make Whale for refuelling before carrying on to Chester. When the crew made the decision to abandon the vessel, Lucie Simik and Joseph (Nippi) Alogut were able to make it to shore on Imilirarjuk Island.

The two remained on the island until they were spotted by volunteers from Whale Cove and returned safely to the community on Sunday.

The body of Kevin Naitok was spotted on Monday.

SAR members and a member of the RCMP retrieved the body and returned it to Whale Cove.

As of press time, Camille Simik was still missing.

Cpl. Dan Dionne of the Whale Cove detachment of the RCMP would not release much information concerning the tragedy, other than to confirm two individuals had been returned safely and the body of another brought home on Monday.

Dionne said the call on the overdue vessel came into his detachment on Sunday, afternoon. "I can confirm two of the men were recovered from the island and brought home safely," said Dionne.

"The body of a third crew member was located on Monday and returned to Whale Cove. The third crew member was also found on land, but not in the same area as the two who survived.

"The two survivors were located by a group of residents who went out looking when they heard the men were overdue."