CORAL HARBOUR - Incredible luck and the training received by two Canadian Rangers helped prevent a sad ending to Coral Harbour's fishing derby this past week.

Douglas Nakoolak wears a neck brace after surviving a three-metre plunge on his snowmobile near Cleveland River lakes this past week. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

Bad weather and poor visibility had hampered Coral for about two weeks when Douglas Nakoolak and his family left for the fishing camps near the Cleveland River lakes, about 154 kilometres from the community.

Nakoolak was pulling family and supplies in a qamutiik as he followed the snowmobile trail to the camp.

He lost the trail in almost zero visibility as they neared their destination.

The family was about 6.4 km from the camp when Nakoolak decided to leave his wife and two kids with the qamutiik and search for a safe way down from the hills.

He never saw the cliff edge and, in less than a heartbeat, man and machine were plunging more than three metres straight down.

The impact knocked Nakoolak senseless but, upon regaining consciousness, he was able to restart his machine and make his way back to his family despite the searing pain in his left shoulder.

After Nakoolak and his family found their way down to the people below, a satellite phone was used to alert medical personnel in Coral about the accident.

A Twin Otter was available for charter in Iqaluit, but the pilot was leery about the flight due to the weather and landing conditions.

Fortunately, Canadian Rangers Noel Kaludjak and John Nakoolak were among the people at the fishing camp.

When the pilot learned they were trained at making an emergency landing strip, the decision was made to attempt the transport.

As the plane left Iqaluit, John and Kaludjak set about using jerry cans and a flag Kaludjak had brought along to mark the airstrip.

Kaludjak said they picked a spot on the ice with no snow to make it easier for the pilot to see.

He said the plane arrived in Coral at about 10 a.m., and left about 30 minutes later for the 40-minute flight to the camp.

"Douglas was out of danger, so we had him resting in a cabin until the plane arrived the next day," said Kaludjak.

"He could walk and move around, but he had no use of his left arm.

"We finished the airstrip, but it was still cloudy with some whiteout conditions when they arrived.

"The plane circled once and was able to land no problem."

Kaludjak said Douglas was flown to Coral, medevaced to Winnipeg for treatment and then returned to his community.

He said it's amazing he wasn't hurt more seriously in the fall.

"Our Rangers training really paid off in being able to help Douglas.

"All I can say about a fall like that on a machine with just a shoulder injury is wow!

"He's one lucky guy."

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