Hay River (Aug 14/06) - A Nunavut teenager died last week, five days after falling into the Hay River.

The victim has been identified by police as Alexander Steven Angulalik, 17, of Cambridge Bay.

Angulalik fell into the river on the afternoon of Aug. 5.

By the time he was lifted out of the water, attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. According to the RCMP, medical staff at the hospital in Hay River obtained a heartbeat, but he remained unresponsive and was placed on life support.

Later, he was medevaced to Edmonton's Royal Alexandria Hospital, where he died on Aug. 10. Angulalik never regained consciousness.

Police have determined the cause of death to be accidental and as the result of drowning.

According to the RCMP, Angulalik was visiting a cousin in Hay River and the two were drinking liquor on the riverbank behind Diamond Jenness Secondary School.

The teenager lost his footing and slipped, falling into the water.

"He got caught up in the current," said Cpl. Jim Forsey.

The teenager's cousin jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue him. However, the victim, who police describe as having been a weak swimmer, began to panic and went under the water.

By the time his cousin located him, Angulalik had been under water for about two minutes, police said.

The victim's cousin was able to hold on to him while they floated down river.

They were lifted out of the water by two Hay River residents passing by in a jet boat, and emergency CPR was begun immediately.

The youth was brought to shore at Porritt Landing, and transported by ambulance to H.H. Williams Memorial Hospital. In light of the tragedy, Forsey advises people to be careful in and around the Hay River. "The river is very dangerous and the current is very deceiving."